JEYPORE: A day after arrest of 51 persons for their alleged role in lynching of four ganja smugglers, Jeypore Sadar police informed on Saturday that involvement of some local goons is suspected in the incident.
Police said the smugglers from Madhya Pradesh - Arjun Kumar Yala, Anand Shyam, Prakash Jaispal, Ranucharan Kar - had come to Nuaput village during wee hours of Thursday in a jeep to collect ganja stock from traders of Malkangiri and Koraput. Some local history-sheeters came to know that the four were carrying large amount of cash for buying ganja and they along with villagers intercepted the smugglers at Jeypore-Boiapariguda road, near Balia village under Jeypore Sadar police limits.
An altercation had ensued between both the groups and subsequently, the four were lynched. While the bodies were left behind near the Balia bridge, the cash that was being carried by the ganja smugglers and their other personal belongings are missing. Police had earlier stated that the four were killed by locals suspecting them to be members of organ trafficking gang.
Among the 51 persons arrested on Friday, five were ganja smugglers - four from Malkangiri and one from Boipariguda. The others mostly belong to Balia, Nuaput, Palkaput and Paliguda villages. Sources said the instigators of the attack have not been arrested so far. Since Friday night, police have been raiding Balia and Nuaput villagers and detained 20 persons for interrogation. Sources said a majority of people of the four villages have left the area fearing arrest.
Koraput SP CS Meena said investigation into the case is in progress and if required, more villagers will be taken into custody for interrogation. A team of eight senior police officials has been formed to investigate the case, which is being regularly monitored by the Home Department.