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Two killed, four injured in Orissa police firing
Two persons were killed and four injured on Friday when police opened fire to disperse villagers who turned violent during a road blockade in Kodala area of Orissa's Ganjam district.
Two persons were killed and four injured on Friday when police opened fire to disperse villagers who turned violent during a road blockade in Kodala area of Orissa's Ganjam district.
Villagers blocked the road for the third successive day in protest against the arrest of about 45 people from the area for the July 13 violent clash in which two persons were killed.
When police tried to clear the road blockade at Khajipalli in Kodala area, about 40 km from here, crude bombs and stones were hurled at them by the protesters, police said.
Unable to control the mob by using batons and mild force, police opened fire in which two persons were killed and four villagers injured, DGP Manmohan Praharaj said.
At least eight police personnel were also injured in the attack by violent villagers, said the DGP, who visited the site following direction by chief minister Naveen Patnaik.
"The situation in the area is tense but under control. Necessary steps have been taken to maintain law and order and prevent further flare up," he said.
Both the bodies were in MKCG Medical College Hospital here for post-mortem, hospital sources said.
Three of the injured were taken to hospital at Aska, while another was admitted to MKCG Medical College Hospital where his condition was stated to be serious, sources said.
Patnaik announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each to the next of kin of the person who died in the firing. "We reviewed the situation and steps are being taken to restore normalcy in the area," he said.
Traffic was disrupted between Aska and Bhubaneswar for several hours because of the road blockade.
