Keonjhar, April 2: A mob today went on the rampage over the killing of a former sarpanch, Baisnab Biswal, 65, at Samana village in Nandipada.

The angry villagers set on fire three houses, 10 motorcycles and two four-wheelers belonging to the BJD supporters. They also torched a mobile tower at the village. Later, fire brigade reached the spot and doused the fire.

The mob staged a roadblock at Hatadihi on Bhadrak-Anandapur road with the body, demanding stern and immediate action against the killers.

Vehicular traffic between Bhadrak and Anandapur was disrupted over five hours following the blockade. The area became tense following the incident. The blockade was withdrawn after police assured the villagers arrest of all the accused involved in the crime soon.

The police said Biswal, former sarpanch of Samana gram panchayat, was a Congress party worker. He was intercepted around 8am allegedly by a group of BJD workers while he was on his way to his rice mill from his house.

The group attacked him with lethal weapons. When the former sarpanch fell down, they slit his throat with a sharp weapon, killing him on the spot. As the murder had taken place in full public view, the news spread immediately. Biswal’s supporters got together and resorted to rioting.

“The dispute between the groups started reportedly over auction of Balighat (sand ghat) of the Baitarani river at the village. The BJD workers had wanted to take the ghat on lease, which was awarded to one of Biswal’s close aides on Saturday. This led to resentment among the ruling party workers,” said Keonjhar additional superintendent of police Manoranjan Mohanty.

“The ruling party workers had held a meeting and accused Biswal of being responsible for losing their Balighat lease. Moreover, it was at the meet that they decided to eliminate the former sarpanch. They killed the former sarpanch today morning while the latter was going to his rice mill at the village,” said Mohanty.

Three platoons of armed police force have been deployed at the village.

“We have seized the body and sent it for post-mortem. Two persons have been detained and further investigation is on. The accused have absconded from the village soon after the incident,” said Mohanty.