Bhubaneswar: With less than 24 hours left for the Odisha Phase III elections, as many as nine persons reportedly sustained injuries in pre-poll violence at several places in Odisha on Friday.
As per reports, violence erupted in Odisha’s Pipili, Athagarh and Angul just a day before the regions going for polling scheduled to be held on Saturday.
Two groups clashed over the distribution of liquor at Athagarh in Cuttack district and it left more than five persons including a minor from both groups. The minor is undergoing treatment at Sishu Bhawan in Cuttack.
The incident took place at Taradinga village Harijan Sahi under Athagarh police limits in Cuttack district.
Going by sources, cash and liquor were being distributed by a political outfit on Thursday evening when a clash broke out between two groups of villagers. The clash turned violent when the villagers started pelting stones at each other. This left five persons including a minor injured in the clash.
Athagarh police reached the sop and began an investigation into it.
Similarly, Samiti Sabhya member Gadadhar Parida among three were injured after being attacked by miscreants in a pre-poll violence broke out at Sahajpur panchayat in Pipili. Two of them were rushed to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar.
While Parida got his leg fractured, two others received severe injuries on their heads.
Parida was on his way to Subudhipada with his accomplices when miscreants chased and attacked them.
The incident sparked tension following the incident. Locals gheraoed Pipili police station demanding action against miscreants. Meanwhile, police detained three persons in this connection.
In another pre-poll violence, a Biju Janata Dal worker was allegedly attacked with a sword by a saffron party worker at Chhendipada in Angul district.
The BJD worker identified as Govind Pradhan has been admitted to Chhednipada Hospital in critical condition. A clash ensued between BJD and BJP workers over a petty discussion which prompted BJP workers to attack BJD worker Pradhan at Chhendpada.
Based on a complaint, police have initiated a probe into the matter.
