In a bizarre incident, a large number of villagers together attacked a team of police and freed an unauthorised liquor trader from their hold in a village under the Ramgiri police station in Gajpati district. At least three policemen have been seriously injured in the incident.
Sources said a team of 11 policemen led by ASI Birendra Pradhan had on Sunday evening during a raid on illegal liquor traders in tribal-dominated Gudi village had seized 30 litres of country liquor from one Subash Badamundi and arrested him. Nearly 30 armed villagers soon gathered and attacked the police with sticks and released Subash from their custody.
“While all cops have been injured, a Habildar and an OAPF jawan have been seriously injured and another OAPF jawan was beaten by a villager. The culprits would be arrested soon,” said IIC Jitendra Mallick. The incident once again highlights the lawlessness in the state with the goons recklessly going on rampage with little care for the law.