Several injured in Panchayat poll related violence in Odisha

Several people were injured in group clashes and houses burnt in at least two places as poll related violence continued unabated in different parts of Odisha during the ongoing Panchayat elections.
While rival groups set fire on four houses today at Podana village under Niali block in Cuttack district following a clash where one person died two days ago, the son of a Zilla Parishad member candidate of BJP was allegedly kidnapped by the rival groups in Kendrapara district.
In an incident of post-poll violence, a group of miscreants hurled country bombs at the house of a contestant for Sarpanch post in Karilopatana gram panchayat.

In Tentulihandi village under Chandbali police station of Bhadrak district, four people, including a woman, were injured in a clash between two political groups.
The police, however, claimed there was no group clash, but two neighbours got into a confrontation over a dog being hit by a motorcycle.
In Samukanendi village under Ghasipura police limits in Keonjhar district, two persons were seriously injured in a clash between two rival groups. The injured have been admitted to the hospital, the police said.
Violence was also reported from Kishorenagar block in Angul as clashes broke out between two groups after the polls.

At Athgarh in Cuttack district, two factions of the ruling BJD clashed in front of Dorada Panchayat office. One Subhash Bhoi was injured in the attack and has been admitted to Athgarh hospital, the police said.