Jajpur, Aug. 17: A group of irate villagers attacked a police team from Tomka at Jemadeipur village in Sukinda block in Jajpur. Police said four cops, including a special police officer (SPO), were injured.

The team had gone to the village to arrest eight persons in connection with two land dispute cases. As soon as the team reached the residence of one of the accused, the other residents attacked them.

The four policemen who suffered injuries are SPO Sriram Hembrum, 26, constable Baburam Hembrum, 35, and homeguards Snehalata Das, 27, and Hemalata Hembrum, 26.

“A mob of villagers, mostly women, attacked the cops with sticks and brooms to stop them from arresting the accused persons. Three police personnel managed to escape unhurt, but the irate villagers hurt four members of the team,” said Prafulla Kumar Singh, inspector in-charge of Tomka police station.

Police said the injured cops have been admitted to Danagadi Community Centre at Kalinga Nagar.

Four persons have been arrested in this connection and a case registered against them. The rest of the offenders could not be arrested from the village till the evening as they hid to avoid being arrested.

A villager said the accused persons were innocent and had been falsely implicated in the two cases.