Palpable tension has been prevailing in two Dalit villages since Saturday night following a group clash erupted between the residents of the two villages over a petty matter, resulting in 10 persons, including women, sustaining injuries from both sides.
According to sources, a girl of Tilanga village under Derabish police station, on Saturday night had to buy soft drink from a shop at Haladia village under Mahanga police station of Cuttack district, an adjoining village of Tilanga.
However, an altercation started when a straw used to suck soft drink fell from the hand of the minor girl and she requested the shop owner to provide her another straw.
Some locals of Haladia later passed comments on the girl. When the victim girl’s uncle reached at the spot, the local youths, who were sitting near the shop, allegedly assaulted him and stabbed him at the back with a broken wine bottle. The situation later turned violent and soon villagers from both villages were engaged in a bloody clash. As many as 10 persons, including some women, sustained injuries from both sides.
The injured were later rushed to a local hospital for treatment. As three persons sustained critical injuries, they were shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack.
The Haladia villagers later lodged an FIR at Mahanga police station against the Tilanga villagers. The Mahanga police soon conducted raids at Tilanga village, seized two bikes and three television sets from the houses, as the police suspect the seized items were stolen properties. However, the police failed to nab the people involved in the clash as all the male members fearing police arrest have fled from homes. Some Haladia villagers allegedly torched a couple of houses in Tilanga on Saturday late night.
The Tilanga villagers on Sunday lodged an FIR against the Haladia villagers for assaulting and injuring them by passing comments on a girl and setting houses on fire.
Situation had not returned to normal till writing this report. Anticipating possible law and order situation, police forces have been deployed in the two villages, informed sources.