Balasore, April 12: Goons torched a police van following a clash with the police at Chandaneswar this afternoon. Several persons, including some devotees and policemen, were injured in the clash during the annual Chadak Mela at Lord Chandaneswar temple today.

While the police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the mob, comprising mainly local devotees, the latter allegedly set a police van ablaze and ransacked a local Yatri Niwas.

Balasore police superintendent Rajesh Kumar, district collector Akhil Bihari Ota and local legislator Ananta Das were present at the spot at the time of the clash. The situation was brought under control following their intervention.

“Thirty persons from both the sides were injured,” said Bapuni Patra, an eyewitness.

According to the police, tension erupted when some local residents allegedly molested a young girl while trying to forcibly apply sandalwood paste on her. When the onlookers protested, the goons attacked them. When the police intervened, they were also assaulted.

“Some local residents molested a girl in the presence of her parents on the pretext of offering sandalwood paste. When the police intervened, the local goons pelted stones at them and also beat them up,” said Santosh Nayak, sub-divisional police officer of Jaleswar.

District collector Akhil Bihari Ota said: “The situation has been brought under control. An inquiry will be conducted into the incident.”

About 1.5 lakh devotees congregated at the Lord Chandaneswar temple today to participate in the annual Chadak Mela, one of the most important religious festivals of Chandaneswar.