Nabarangpur: A woman accused of attacking a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), an Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) and a court Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) with an iron rod inside a courtroom in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody, police said on Monday.
The incident took place on November 7 at the JMFC court in Jharigaon, where the accused, identified as Sanmati Majhi, an Anganwadi worker, allegedly attacked Magistrate Smita Lakra, APP Pradeep Kumar Pattanaik and Court ASI Meenketan Gantayat.
According to reports, Majhi had entered the courtroom carrying an iron rod concealed in her bag after being summoned by the APP. She allegedly took out the weapon and assaulted the three officials. Preliminary investigation suggests that the attack stemmed from previous enmity.
Jharigaon police registered a case (No. 219/2026) in connection with the incident and arrested the accused on Monday. She was subsequently forwarded to court and remanded to judicial custody.
Meanwhile, Orissa High Court judge Justice V. Narasingh visited Nabarangpur and reviewed the incident. He met Magistrate Lakra, who is undergoing treatment at the Nabarangpur District Headquarters Hospital, and enquired about her health.
Justice Narasingh later held discussions with APP Pattanaik and the Jharigaon police station officer at the Circuit House to ascertain details of the attack. He was accompanied by High Court Registrar Bikram Pattanaik and District Judge Sangram Keshari Pattanaik.
District Medical Officer Dr Sukanta Kumar Satapathy said the Magistrate’s condition was stable.
During the meeting at the Circuit House, Odisha State Bar Council member P. Ramesh Patra urged the authorities to ensure the immediate implementation of the Advocates’ Protection Act and strengthen security arrangements for advocates and court staff within court premises.
District Bar Association president Santosh Mishra strongly condemned the attack.
