Bolagir: Turekela police in Balangir district reportedly arrested as many as seven persons for their involvement in the alleged attack on Forest Department personnel during an anti-encroachment drive at Jubamal village under the Bangomunda range of Turekela police station limits of the district.
Police identified the seven accused persons as Pitambar Puta and Dibakar Puta of Mundapada village, and Gokul Charan Adjuad, Krishna Charan Adjuad, Madhu Adjuad, Tikaram Adjuad, and Bhojram Puta of Jubamal village.
It is to be noted here that police started an investigation into the matter after a group of villagers attacked Forest Department personnel on June 30. The government servants were attacked when they had gone for a plantation drive in the disputed land as part of an afforestation initiative.
Video of the attack had massively gone viral on different social media platforms prompting the police to take action and arrest the accused persons.
The accused persons were forwarded to the court after completion of medical examinations and other legal process.
