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Imran Khan in Bhubaneswar
At least 25 persons, including 5 policemen, were injured following a clash between two communities at a village on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, the police said on Friday.
Two platoons of armed police have been deployed in Jadupur village and a curfew clamped to prevent outbreak of fresh violence.
Ten roadside cabins in the village were damaged in the violent clash.
The police said that the clash started due to a dispute during a cricket match organised by the Jadupur Youth Association, which was underway near the village for the last ten days.
On Wednesday morning, a youth of the neighbouring Sarakantara village, Dushashan Mohapatra, tried to negotiate with some of the match organisers, who had allegedly assaulted one of his neighbours. Following this, the organisers reportedly assaulted Mohapatra.
Police sources said that Mohapatra immediately lodged a complaint with Khandagiri police who, however, dismissed it as a trivial matter.
In the evening, a villager of Jadupur Sheikh Shamim was on his way home when he was allegedly assaulted by some youths of Sarakantara.
Though police reached the village, it left after the villagers agreed to restore peace.
However, the situation went out of control on Thursday morning with members of both the communities numbering more than two thousand marching towards one another.
In the ensuing clash, 25 persons were injured.
Meanwhile, senior officials have reached the spot to take stock of the situation.
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