20 women injured in police action in Kandhmal

Bhubaneswar, Oct 20 (UNI) Around 20 women demonstrators were injured as police resorted to lathicharge to disperse them during a protest in Katingia Gram Panchayat under Raikia Police station of the strife-torn Kandhamal district today.

The women were protesting the arrest of innocent tribals and police ''excess'' in the district.

They also demanded regular work and relief and the withdrawal of CRPF from the district.

The security personnel resorted to lathicharge as the women did not budge an inch from their stand after repeated requests.

All the injured were admitted to Raikia PHC.

Tension prevailed in the area yesterday after fresh violence erupted in the area after a gap of around 15 days in which a person sustained bullet injuries in his leg when he was shot at in Laburi village by unidentified people under Katingia Gram Panchayat in Raikia police station.

The authorities had lifted the night curfew two days back in four sensitive police station areas of Baliguda, Phulbani, Tumudibandh and Phiringia as no fresh violence was reported during the last fortnight.

However, night curfew was in force in the remaining five other police stations such as Tikabali, K Nuagaon, Raikia and G Udayagiri as a precautionary measure.

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