By IANS
Balasore (Orissa) : At least 30 people including 22 policemen sustained injuries in a clash Saturday over the rape and murder of a minor in Orissa’s Balasore district, police said.
Villagers and policemen clashed at the Haldipada outpost located on the outskirts of Balasore town, some 200 km from the state capital, and a portion of national highway no.5 located near the police post turned into a battleground for more than an hour.
According to police, a seven-year-old girl of Naharpatana village was allegedly raped and then murdered by Karunakar Das, 40, from nearby Dumuda village early Saturday.
“Villagers spotted the accused with the body and chased him. Police personnel reached the spot and took the accused into custody,” police officer S. Das told IANS.
Later, thousands of infuriated people rushed to the police outpost and tried to snatch the accused away. When police prevented them they pelted stones leading to a clash with police.
“When the mob pelted stones and attacked the police with weapons, following the order of the magistrate we fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
“Altogether 22 cops have been injured while one constable is still in the hospital,” said Balasore Superintendent of Police Yashwant Kumar Jethwa.
Meanwhile, police arrested Das and produced him in a court that remanded him in judicial custody. A case was also registered against the villagers.
Police said Das has at least five such cases pending against him.