Berhampur, June 5: Workers of the BJD and the Congress clashed at a village in Kabisurya Nagar and hurled bombs at each other. Three supporters of the BJD — a sarpanch, her husband and father — were seriously injured.

The victims were identified as sarpanch of Subalaya Bandana Khatei, her husband Birendra Khatei and father Bhaskar Khatei. Their condition is stated to be critical.

They were allegedly attacked by Congress supporters led by samiti member Panchanan Khatei. The Congress, however, claimed that 15 of its workers had suffered injuries.

Tension had been brewing in the area after the sarpanch post went to the BJD and the samiti member’s post went to the Congress. Both groups have registered complaints against each other.

“We have detained one supporter of the Congress and are interrogating him,” S.L.K Prasad, inspector in charge of Kabisurya Nagar police station, said. Two platoons of police have been deployed in the village.