Indus Valley Times

By Suryanarayan Panda

Koraput, April 22: Two youths were on Friday killed in a clash between two groups celebrating ‘Chaita Parab,’ a yearly religious event, at Sindhipar village in Koraput district on Friday. The deceased were identified as Purna Nayak and Debendra Dami from Sindhipar village.

As per reports, some youths from Jhadiguda visited Sindhipar under to watch cultural programmes of the villagers as part of the celebration. However, a scuffle broke out between two groups over a trivial issue. Subsequently, the visitors from Jhadiguda lost their cool and attacked the hosts with sharp-edged weapons.

Both Nayak and Dami sustained severe injuries in the attack. They were immediately admitted to a nearby hospital and later shifted to Koraput District Headquarters hospital as their condition deteriorated. However, they succumbed to their injuries during treatment.

Tension ran high in the area following the death of the two youths. Damanjodi police reached the spot immediately to control the situation and pacify the people. Two platoons of police forces have been deployed in the area to keep the law and order situation under control.

Notably, ‘Chaita Parab’ is the most important festival of tribal people in Koraput district. The tribal people remain in festive mood for the whole month by wearing new clothes and sacrificing animals and birds before their deities.