Other States - Orissa

Villagers end road blockade

CUTTACK: The blockade on Cuttack-Athgarh road was lifted on Wednesday morning, after about 30 hours, as amicable solution was reached between two warring villagers in the presence of district officials.

The residents of Padmasahi and Hemalpur villages of Athagarh block, about 30 km from here, staged two separate road blockades since Tuesday after a group clash over construction of a temple in the locality. Tension was mounting in the locality for the past few days over the construction of the temple that was coming up on a piece of government land.

But all hell broke loose on Tuesday when the residents of the villages were engaged in a pitched battle over the issue. At least five persons were injured in the clash. Following complaints lodged from both the warring factions, the police were deployed in the area as the situation turned for the worst.

However, the district administration intervened into the matter and brokered peace on Wednesday, local police sources said.

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