JAGATSINGHPUR: Tension erupted in Benukhandha village under Jagatsinghpur police limits after two farmers were reportedly electrocuted to death while ploughing their paddy field with a tractor on Monday.
The deceased were identified as Ajay Sahoo (27) and Sagar Bhoi (26) of Benukhandha. Following their deaths, irate villagers blocked the Cuttack-Naugaon NH-55 at Police Station Square blaming TPCODL officials for the incident and demanding strict action against them.
Sources said Ajay was ploughing his paddy field with a tractor when he was electrocuted after the vehicle allegedly came in contact with the underground live wire. Sagar tried to rescue him but also suffered electrocution. Both the farmers sustained serious burns and were rushed the district headquarters hospital (DHH) where doctors declared them dead. As the news of their deaths spread, irate villagers stormed the DHH and forcibly took away the bodies. They blocked the NH-55 by placing the bodies at Police Station Square.
The agitators said TPCODL had supplied electricity to a boring point at Benukhandha village for providing water to paddy fields. The electricity line was allegedly laid underground at a depth of only two to three feet below the surface. The illegal laying of the live wire caused the deaths, they alleged.
As traffic movement came to a standstill due to the blockade, Jagatsinghpur tehsildar Ajaya Kumar Mohanty, SDPO Dibyaranjan Nath and IIC Susant Kumar Sahoo rushed to the spot along with a police team and tried to pacify the agitating villagers. Following prolonged discussions, the road blockade was lifted after around four hours.
Later, family members of the deceased farmers lodged a complaint with Jagatsinghpur police against TPCODL officials. Police said a case has been registered and investigation is underway.
