Bhubaneswar, April 18: Seven policemen, including a sub-inspector, were seriously injured today afternoon in a group clash between two villages at Jatamundai in Banki, 65km from here. The injured persons have been admitted to a local hospital.

Sources said the incident took place when the villagers of Karabara had come to witness the Jhamu jatra at Jatamundai. The villagers from the two villages had an altercation and got involved in a brawl. The police intervened and took one of the villagers from Karabara into custody.

More villagers from Karabara came to Jatamunda and gheraoed the local police station demanding release of the arrested person. Opposing the move, the crowd from Jatamunda village blocked the Banki-Cuttack road. When police tried to remove the demonstrators from the street, the villagers pelted stones at the policemen. Seven policemen were injured in stone pelting.