90 arrested in Orissa Ganjam killings

After 90 people were arrested today in connection with the burning alive of eight people by a mob on June 29 in Orissa's Ganjam district, angry villagers blocked Sheragada-Badagada road protesting the detentions, police said.

Security has been stepped up as tension prevailed in the area.

Residents of nearby villages in Kulagada panchyat of Sheragada block under Hinjili, chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s constituency, reportedly participated in the dharana.

"We have detained around 90 persons. Those found to be involved in the gruesome incident will be forwarded to court," SP (Ganjam) Nitinjit Singh said.

Over 200 police personnel were deployed in the village under Badagada police limit, about 60km from here. 

"Five bodies have been identified and handed over to the relatives. The situation in the village was under control," the SP said.

Police suspect the dispute between the crusher unit owners and residents of Badagada village behind the incident. The villagers were strongly opposed to the establishment of the unit and the stone quarry at Sindhiguda near their village.

Meanwhile, the Opposition parties blamed the district administration for ignoring the plea of the villagers due to which they took the law into their own hands. Party leaders have demanded a judicial enquiry into the incident.

The situation could have been averted had the district administration taken precautionary measures, former deputy speaker and BJP leader Ram Chandra Panda, Congress Committee

(Ganjam district unit) president Bhagaban Gantayat and CPI(M) leader AK Patnaik said.