KalingaTV News Network
Sundergarh: At least five persons were injured and a number of vehicles including a police van were set ablaze after a scuffle erupted between two groups of minority community in Patkurabahal village under Kutra block in the district last night.
A verbal duel which erupted between two groups in the Patkurabahal bus stand area over donation collection last evening, soon escalated into a brawl in which several shops including a medicine shop of one Md Janashir Ahmed was vandalized and set ablaze. The attackers then targeted other shops in the market owned by Ahmed’s supporters.
“Around 20-25 persons of a gang involved in donation collection at the bus stand reached my shop last night and started abusing me verbally. They also attacked a youth present over there named Md Shahrukh as he reached out to help me. They vandalized my medicine shop making me to incur a loss of Rs 30-40 lakh,” said Ahmed narrating the whole episode.
“Later in the night over hundred people led by the main accused in the incident Md Hashi attacked my home in the village and torched it. I lost several vital documents including the drug license in the incident,” he added.
After the miscreants were protested by another group in the village, a bloody group clash erupted. At least 5 persons sustained injuries and one car, one dumper and several other vehicles were torched during the clash.
After police reached the spot getting information on the incident, the attackers targeted the police van with stones and vandalized it.
Police have arrested 15 persons from both the sides in the case and have stationed 4 platoons of police force in the village to maintain law and order.
Kalinga AI