Nabarangpur: In a shocking incident, a woman allegedly attacked an Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) with an iron rod inside the premises of the First Class Judicial Magistrate’s Court at Jharigaon in Nabarangpur district on Saturday, leaving the prosecutor and a police officer injured. The presiding magistrate also sustained injuries during the incident, though it was not immediately clear whether she was directly hit.
The accused, identified as Sanamati Majhi (30), an Anganwadi worker from Karsahandi village, allegedly pulled out an iron rod from her bag and struck APP Pradeep Kumar Pattanaik on the head while he was attending a phone call.
According to reports, the woman had initially attempted to enter the judge’s courtroom but was stopped for not having permission. She subsequently approached the government lawyer, who asked her to sit on a nearby chair.
While Pattanaik was speaking over the phone, the woman allegedly launched the attack, leaving him bleeding and crying for help.
Hearing the commotion, First Class Judicial Magistrate Kumari Smita Lakra, Jharigaon Circle Inspector Meenketan Gantayat and other court staff rushed to the spot and tried to intervene. The magistrate and the CI also sustained head injuries in the ensuing incident.
The injured APP and the CI were initially taken to Jharigaon Community Health Centre for treatment.
Jharigaon police station IIC Rachita Madkami subsequently overpowered the woman and detained her at the police station.
Police are expected to examine CCTV footage of the court premises as part of the investigation.
Preliminary information suggests that a dowry harassment case (GR Case No. 14/2026) involving the woman is pending before the Jharigaon court. Her evidence in the case was reportedly recorded on November 2.
