CUTTACK: At least eight police personnel, including Mahanga inspector-in-charge (IIC) Jugal Kishore Das sustained injuries allegedly after a group of locals pelted stones at them besides vandalising two police vehicles during Lord Ganesh idol immersion procession at Bardia village under Chahapada panchayat on Wednesday night.
Police have so far arrested four persons in this connection while the others are currently absconding. Apart from Das, the others injured include four home guards, a constable and two OSAP personnel, said Salepur sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Biranchi Narayan Pati.
Police sources said the villagers of Bardia were carrying out the idol immersion procession for which two home guards were deployed in the locality for maintenance of law and order.
It was reportedly already beyond the permissible time limit of 10 pm due to which the two home guards asked the puja committee members to wrap up the immersion soon. However, they allegedly ignored the direction and started abusing the duo following which the latter informed the matter to Mahanga police.
When IIC Das and other police personnel reached the spot and asked the puja committee members to conclude the immersion procession, the latter allegedly started attacking the cops and vandalising their vehicles. While police retreated under the attack, the puja committee members allegedly took their own sweet time to cover the entire panchayat and only then conclude the immersion procession which reportedly continued beyond midnight.
SDPO Pati said even banned DJ music was used during the immersion procession. “The group members got enraged as they were repeatedly being asked to conclude the immersion procession and attacked the police personnel,” he said. “A case has been registered against 24 people and others under relevant sections of BNS read with section 3 of PDPP Act, and Fire and Loud Speaker Act. So far, four persons have been arrested and produced in court. Efforts are underway to nab the others who are currently on the run,” the officer said.