The District and Sessions Court, Keonjhar, on Wednesday granted bails to 63 women, who were arrested along with 54 men on July 8 and 9 in connection with the clash between police and villagers of Belabahali in Keonjhar district over the construction of a bridge over the river Kusei on July 7.
Out of the 63 women, 10 have children under five years old and an old woman aged between 65 and 70 years. Social organisations and political parties had demanded release of the women under humanitarian ground. Villagers’ lawyer Harekrushna Patnaik said the court granted bail to the women in a personal bond of Rs10,000. Notably, 117 people were arrested by the police in connection with the clash. The clash had taken place when police tried to arrest the villagers who were staging a demonstration against the proposed bridge over the river. The clash left over two dozen villagers and officials injured.