Kodala violence in fourth day

Protesters dig up road for continuing the blockade

Berhampur: The violent protesters of nearby villagers of Kodala area continued the road blockade by digging from two sides of the road on Saturday at Khajapalli near Kodala of Ganjam district.

The violence reached in fourth day. Still the tension is prevailing in nearby villages. Market, shops, school, college, were closed on Saturday. The authorities continued the prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC and night time curfew from evening 8 pm to morning 6 am since July 13 following the group-clash. Police flag march was continued and 22 platoon forces were deployed there to control the violence.

The villagers of Khajapalli were dug the road from two sides of the road. Purusottampur-Kavisuryanagar and Purusottampur-Kodala road were blocked by the villagers. Police was silent on Saturday after the unexpected incident happened on Friday.

ODRAF team has reached here in the violence site. They started clearing the road from trees cut by the villagers for the blockade.

The villagers have planned to cremate the dead bodies of the deceased on the road, after the arrival of the dead bodies from Berhampur MKCG Medical College and hospital. They also demanded 10 lakh and government job as compensation for the families of the deceased.

Senior level police officers are taking the care of the law and order situation to bring peace in the violence area. Leaders of various political parties such as Congress, BJP, CPI and CPI (M) have visited the spot on Saturday and demanded judicial probe into the matter.

On the other side, the victims of the violence, Eragula community have taken the protection of the police. 252 persons have taken shelter in a Kalyanmandap at Kodala. The Eragula community has told to police that they are interested in peaceful living and understanding with the villagers. If they have made any crime, then they are ready to respect the law. But they wanted to clear that they were not involved in any crime before as the villagers alleging against them. Whereas Chachina villagers claimed that the Eragula community has attacked on them on Friday night.

In a recent development, police administration has planned to construct a Village peace committee along with the villagers for the peaceful solution of the matter. Meanwhile, Police has tightened the security suspecting the violence may take place as the dead bodies of the deceased will reach there.