A Sub-Inspector of police and a Home Guard were injured in a violent clash between residents of two villages Kalma and Bankatira under the Sadar police station in Baleswar district on Tuesday.
Sources said after getting information of the clash, Haldipada police outpost in-charge Sub-Inspector Rajendra Nayak, arrived at the spot to control the situation.
However, irate villagers damaged the police vehicle and thrashed Nayak severely. Injured Nayak was rushed to a nearby hospital and his condition was stated to be critical.
However, the injured Home Guard was released from the hospital. Four other injured in the clash were admitted to the hospital.
The clash was said to be fallout of an earlier incident when two groups of youths of Kalma and Bankatira villagers were involved in a brawl.
Meanwhile, two platoons police forces were deployed in the area and 12 persons were arrested in connection with the Tuesday incident.
But tension continued to prevail in the area.