In a case of mistaken identity, a group of villagers attacked a police team in plain clothes near here and vandalised the vehicle in which they were chasing suspected abductors of a minor girl, an officer said.
The team had on Wednesday entered Kapursingh village in Gurudijhatia police station area, about 20 km from here, following a tip-off that one of the accused was hiding in the locality, while others were reportedly taking the abducted girl to neighbouring Angul district, he said.
As soon as the police team broke open the door of a hutment and apprehended the suspect, villagers, who had by then gathered in large numbers, came in their way, suspecting a foul play by "outsiders", the officer said.
They attacked the policemen, including the inspector in-charge of Jagatpur police station, Pradip Naik, he said.
"The irate villagers did not relent as the policemen failed to show their identity cards. During the scuffle, the suspected abductor fled the spot," he explained.
It was only after officers of the local Gurudijhatia police, which comes under Cuttack (rural) jurisdiction, reached the spot, the captive policemen were rescued.
A case has been registered by the Gurudijhatia police on a written complaint filed by IIC Naik and one person arrested so far for obstructing the policemen from carrying out their duties, said Superintendent of Police, Cuttack (rural), R B Panigrahi.
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