Six persons were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the bloody group clash at Baunsabeda near Telegan under Umarkote block in Nabarangpur district in which two persons were killed.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Ramesh Majhi visited the spot after three days of the incident and met family members of the deceased. Accepting the administration’s fault indirectly, Majhi said steps would be taken to prevent such incidents in future.
“Investigation into the matter is on, and truth behind the incident will come out after the probe,” the Minister said.
On the other hand, Congress leader Pradip Majhi has blamed the local Tehsildar and Forest Ranger for the incident. He alleged that the district administration was aware of the dispute over farming on forestland since two years ago but didn’t take any step towards identification of the land.
According to reports, the Forest Department had allowed the villagers to do farming on some patches of forestland. One Baliram Das of the village had forcibly acquired a portion of it and was doing cultivation on it. However, a section of the villagers was opposing Baliram’s activities as he had migrated to the village.
A village meeting had been called on Saturday last to sort out the issue. However, Baliram did not turn up, after which Phagunu Bhatra and Gurubaru Bhatra were asked to call him from his house. When the duo reached Baliram’s house, he attacked them with a sharp weapon, killing Phagunu on the spot and causing grievously injuries to Gurubaru.
When the news spread, the incensed villagers armed with traditional weapons reached the spot and lynched Baliram.