Tension brewed in parts of strife-torn Kandhamal today as nine houses were torched at Toposi and Dibadi while reports of arson trickled in from some places in Raikia.
Five platoons of CRPF, Rapid Action Force and Orissa State Armed Police were deployed in those areas and in other vulnerable pockets to bring the situation under control.
The problem began when CRPF jawans tried to intercept a mob of 500 men, mostly Kandh tribals, on their way to Kurtamgarh gram panchayat to “discuss matters” with the village headman (sarpanch), Sisir Mallik. The headman belonging to the Pana community later converted to Christianity and some persons in the mob held grudges against the sarpanch.
Facing the resistance, the mob launched an attack on the CRPF team with lathis, stones and arms. “Rioters continued to attack the jawans till the latter opened fire,” said DIG (southern range) R.P. Koche.
Two protesters died in the CRPF firing.
A jawan sustained a bullet injury in his neck and was rushed to the sub-divisional hospital at Baliguda.
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