Patna: A violent clash erupted between residents of Adivasi Tola and Andi Tola in Dhokwa village under Dhamdaha police station area of Purnia district on Saturday over a long-standing land dispute, leaving at least six policemen injured after an angry mob attacked a police team engaged in a rescue operation.The confrontation reportedly began after one group allegedly held Ashok Soren and Babulal Soren hostage during the dispute. When police reached the village to rescue them, the situation quickly spiralled out of control.The mob allegedly attacked the police personnel with bricks, stones and sticks, injuring several officers, including the Dhamdaha police station chief and a sub-inspector. Police vehicles were also vandalised during the violence.Tension continued to prevail in the area following the incident. Senior officers, including SDPO Dhamdaha Sandeep Goldy and SDPO Banmankhi Shailesh Pritam, rushed to the village with heavy police deployment and camped there to prevent further escalation. Additional forces from Dhamdaha, Banmankhi, Sarsi and two police outposts were also deployed in the area.Several injured villagers and policemen were admitted to the local primary health centre, nearby hospitals and Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for treatment.Purnia superintendent of police Sweety Sehrawat visited the spot, reviewed the situation and ordered action against those involved in the attack on the police team.“The accused who attacked the police are being identified. Strict action will be taken against each one of them,” she said.Explaining the sequence of events, the SP said, “Around 7 am, Damdaha police received information that a fight was taking place between two parties. The police station team reached the scene, where two individuals — Babulal and Ashok Soren — were tied up and attacked with sharp weapons by one party and an attempt was being made to slit throats. With considerable prudence, the police station team rescued both individuals and got them admitted to GMCH, where they are now out of danger.”
