Injured policeman Seikh Jahirulla at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, and (below) the police van torched by violent mob in Paradip. Picture by Badrika Nath Das and Telegraph picture

Paradip/Cuttack, April 23: A day after an irate mob launched murderous attack on Indian Reserve Police battalion jawans after snatching away their service rifles, an uneasy calm prevailed in the Rangiagada locality near Paradip.

While the rifles snatched away by mob have been retrieved, some magazines and ammunitions are still missing. With the threat of police crackdown becoming imminent, majority of the men have fled from the village.

“People are now living under constant fear of police crackdown. Many of our male members are likely to be targeted by police. That’s why, they have left the village,” said Minati Das, a homemaker from Rangiagada village.

Police today registered cases against more than a hundred villagers, even as suspected trouble-makers are believed to have fled from the village, located on the outskirts of this port township.

“We have registered cases against suspected culprits under Indian Penal Code provisions for attempt to murder, rioting, arson and loot. The mob violence was the handiwork of a large section of people. That’s why over one hundred people would face penal action,” said Shantanu Kumar Das, sub-divisional police officer, Paradip.

At least nine policemen were injured yesterday when a mob, angered over the death of a 15-year-old student in a road mishap, attacked personnel of Indian Reserve Police Battalion near the railway station in Paradip.

Family members of Seikh Jahirulla (36), one of the police personnel who had been critically injured in the mob violence, breathed a sigh of relief as his condition improved today.

Though Jahirulla had sustained two bullet injuries in his abdomen and hip area, doctors at S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack said he was out of danger as the bullets had just pierced his body.

“From the X-ray report it appears that there is no bullet inside his body. However, more tests have been conducted and a decision regarding any kind of surgery would be taken after the reports come later in the evening,” said a doctor.

Relieved on hearing that Jahirulla’s condition was stable, his wife Sabina Banu said: “We are thankful to god that my husband is out of danger. However, the doctors said that he had sustained a minor fracture because of bullet injury. But there is no need to panic.”

When contacted, Jahirulla, a havildar with 3rd Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), refused to comment on yesterday’s incident.

Kedarnath Pradhan, another IRB jawan who suffered multiple head injuries, was discharged from S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital today.

In a related development, people affiliated to a local trade union demonstrated in front of Paradip police station to register their protest against the deteriorating law and order situation. Among other things, they alleged that the police had failed to deliver justice to complainants.

“Instead of undoing the wrong done to them (complainants), the biased police are harassing ordinary people. Yesterday’s incident was manifestation of pent-up anger in law-abiding citizens,” said trade union leader Ram Shankar Ram.

Countering the charge, SDPO Das said that the police had acted in a restrainted manner. Had they reacted to the mob attack and retaliated, there would have been a bloodbath. “Those who took law into their hands and mustered the courage to snatch rifles and launch murderous attacks on policemen would not be spared,” he said.

“We are keeping a close watch on the situation, which is peaceful today. Six platoons of armed police have been deployed as a precautionary measure. Police have received conclusive feedback that some locals with criminal antecedents instigated the crowd to target the police van,” he said.

Bibhu Kalyan Sahu, psychiatrist in Cuttack’s Mental Health Institute, said: “Occurrences of this nature could be attributed to a temporary loss of mental balance and human reasoning on part of those indulging in sudden act of group violence. Mob mentality and incensed behavioural tendency may arise in form of sudden outburst of anger against a system or institution. It could either be instigated by individuals or incidents.”