KEONJHAR: Normalcy has been partially restored in Belabahali village even as people in the area continue to be divided over construction of a bridge over river Kosei. Police deployment continues in the village.
On Tuesday, 26 persons including seven cops, were injured in a clash when villagers at Belabahali near Anandpur protested construction of a bridge over the river in the area.
Angry over efforts to start the bridge construction at the proposed site on NH-215, a large number of residents of Belabahali confronted the police force deployed in the area. When police tried to disperse the protesters, the villagers fought a pitched battle throwing stones and bricks at the police.
On Wednesday, Keonjhar police forwarded 99 persons including 63 women, arrested in connection with the Belabahali clash, to court. RDC (North) NBS Rajput visited the bridge site on Thursday morning. He said the bridge will be constructed at the proposed site.
The villagers have been opposing the bridge construction work over Kosei as part of the expansion of NH-215.
They have been demanding that the location of the bridge should be shifted as the current location may cause flood. Demonstrations and dharnas have also been held in the past by them to press their demand.