Berhampur, July 13: Prohibitory orders were issued and night curfew ordered in the Kodala area of Ganjam following a group clash, in which two persons were hacked to death and several houses torched. Ganjam happens to be the home district of chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

Today, Naveen ordered an administrative inquiry by the revenue divisional commissioner (southern division) into the incident besides payment of ex-gratia assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of clash victims. Besides, the treatment expenses of the injured persons will be borne by the government.

A compensation of Rs 50,000 will be paid to the families whose houses have been fully damaged and Rs 25,000 for the partially damaged houses.

Additional director general of police, Sanjiv Marik was asked to rush to the spot to take stock of the situation. The local sub-divisional police officer and the inspector-in-charge of Kodala police station were placed under suspension, high-level police sources said.

Two youths of Marathi Sahi were killed when a mob of the neighbouring G Chachina village attacked them with sharp weapons and bombs. The two deceased were identified as P. Rama, 25, and Kali, 37. Three persons of Marathi Sahi including Prakash Patra and N. Tarini are missing.

A total of 20 persons were injured and were admitted to nearby hospitals. Local residents said the clash was a fallout of past enmity between residents of Marathi Sahi and G Chachina village. The youths of Marathi Sahi allegedly used to pass comments at college girls and women of G Chachina village.

“Though we had complained about it to the inspector-in-charge of Kodala police station earlier, he remained silent,” alleged villagers of G Chachina, adding that the police was providing moral support to the residents of Marathi Sahi in most of the cases. The residents of G Chachina village were irked after a youth from Marathi Sahi beat up a youth from their village at a hotel in Kodala about 20 days ago.

“It was beyond the limit of our tolerance and we decided to punish some of the residents of Marathi Sahi,” said some residents of the G Chachina village on condition of anonymity.

More than 70 houses in Marathi Sahi were set on fire and 40 bombs were hurled during the group clash. The police have also seized few bombs from some houses in Marathi Sahi.

Many residents of Marathi Sahi have taken shelter at Kodala Police Station for their safety.

“We would take every possible measure to safeguard their life and properties. We are also taking steps to avoid such situations in future,” said Ganjam collector, Kishan Kumar.

Ten platoons of police force have been deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident.

Apart from the district collector, Kumar, deputy inspector general of police (southern range) R. K. Sharma, Ganjam SP Rajesh Pandit and inspectors of seven police stations camped there.