Baragarh: A mob set ablaze a police station in Bargarh and some vehicles during a protest against the alleged police inaction.
As many as 27 persons were arrested today in connection with the attack on a police station and damage to vehicles by a mob in Orissa's Bargarh district, police said.
Additional police personnel were deployed after the incident at Paikamal, about 120 km from here, while door to door search was conducted leading to the arrest of 27 persons for the mob violence, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) J P Mohapatra said.
A local businessman whose behaviour had provoked the local residents to attack the police station and set afire vehicles was also among those arrested, he said.
A large number of people had stormed the police station at Paikamal last evening and set vehicles and furniture ablaze in protest against the businessman's behaviour and demanding his immediate arrest, sources said.
Shops and markets remained closed today as local residents accused the police of joining hands with anti-social and criminal elements. They also demanded suspension of some police officials of Paikamal, sources said.