Berhampur, Aug. 22: A mob set a police jeep on fire and ransacked the Polsara police station in Ganjam district today following the lynching of a woman.

The victim had protested against some youths who had passed lewd remarks at her daughter. These youths allegedly beat the woman to death later.

The residents of Bhabarada village also blocked Polsara Road today demanding stringent action against the culprits.

The police said two cops were injured when the mob attacked and ransacked the police station.

Four or five youths allegedly passed lewd remarks at the daughter of the deceased, Kamala Swain, 45, on August 20. They used to harass the girl, who is a teacher at the local Sishu Mandir, every day.

Prakash Swain, husband of the deceased, said: "Manoj Nahak, Narayan Nahak, Akshya Sahu and Subash Jena used to harass our daughter every day. We protested several times, but they never paid heed. On Saturday, we lodged a complaint with the police and the cops took the parents of Manoj - Arjun and Sajani Nahak - into custody and said the four accused youths had absconded."

Another daughter of Prakash said: "The four accused came to our house on Sunday afternoon and asked for my father, who was away in a paddy field near the village. They were armed with iron rods and lathis. They abused my father. My mother went to the paddy field to inform my father about the incident a few hours later and the four youths followed her to the field."

Prakash said: "I ran away upon seeing the four. But they attacked my wife with iron rods and threw her into a nearby bush and fled."

Villagers rescued the critically injured Kamala and took her to the Polsara Primary Health Centre last evening, where she succumbed to her injuries.

This morning, the villagers blocked the road at Polsara with the body demanding immediate arrest of the culprits, rehabilitation of all the four daughters of the victim, adequate security and a house for the family. At the same time, a mob vandalised the police station.

The villagers ended their road blockade in the afternoon after inspector general of police Amitav Thakur, Ganjam police superintendent Ashis Singh, collector Prem Chandra Chowdhary and other senior officers met the villagers and assured them of action against the culprits.

Singh assured the villagers that stringent action would be taken against the culprits. Seven platoons of police have been deployed.