BALANGIR: Three persons were arrested by Sadar police on Wednesday, a day after a group of villagers chopped off both hands of Khirod Mishra (25) at Raghavpali village under Sadar police limits.
The arrested are Gopinath Bhoi, Ajit Biswal and Lingaraj Ghivela. The nine others who have been named in the FIR are still absconding, Inspector-in-Charge of Sadar police station Ananda Majhi said.
Police also seized the weapons used in the crime. On Tuesday, about 20 villagers launched a murderous attack on Khirod while he and his mother were on their way to a village pond. After overpowering him, they chopped off his both hands with a sharp weapon. On being informed, Sadar police rushed to the spot and admitted him to the district headquarters hospital from where he was shifted to VSS Medical College and Hospital in Burla. But as his condition began to deteriorate, he was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack where he is undergoing treatment at present.
The incident is a fallout of a conflict that occurred during a marriage party in the village on June 4 between Mishra’s family and some villagers. Police said Mishra, his brother Nirod and father Radhakanta were returning home after attending a marriage when they were confronted by a group of villagers and a fight ensued. On the day, police arrested Khirod’s brother Nirod and four members of the opposition party. While the four are out on bail, Nirod is still in jail. Majhi said Khirod, who was absconding after the incident returned to the village on Monday evening. On learning about his return, the members of opposition party planned the attack. Majhi said 10 criminal cases are pending against Khirod in Sadar and Town police stations.