Koraput: Twenty persons suffered injuries in a group clash at Malidoliambo village in Semiliguda police limits here on Saturday night.

One of the injured was admitted to the Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital here on Sunday, while at least five persons are undergoing treatment at hospitals in Kunduli and Sunabeda, said police.

Sources said the clash broke out between two groups over irrigation of agricultural land at the village around 30km from here past Saturday midnight. The groups pelted each other with stone as tension gripped the area.

However, the police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

"The village doesn't have any irrigation facility. So, a group had made a check-dam to store the perennial water from a nearby hill to irrigate their land. However, the dam obstructed the flow to other agricultural land and it resulted in a clash," said local villager Sanatana Mali.

"The villagers attacked each other with stones and bamboo sticks. The injured persons were shifted to Kunduli hospital and those with minor injuries were discharged after preliminary treatment," said Semiliguda police station inspector-in-charge Sambit Behera.

Behera said adequate police have been deployed at the village to avert any untoward incident and an inquiry has been initiated into the incident. "We have not made any arrests. We will take necessary action once we complete investigation," Behera said.

Sources said male members have fled the village fearing police action.