In a fresh outburst in the strife-torn Kandhamal, one woman was killed and several others were injured when two communities clashed at Gadaguda Gram Panchayat under G Udayagiri block early Tuesday morning.
Police said miscreants torched several houses late Monday night, triggering retaliation from the affected communities, resulting in a bloody clash in which firearms were used by both the communities.
Initial report of police opening fire to disperse the violent mob was denied by Kandhamal Superintendent of Police Praveen Kumar.
One Ramani Nayak, who died in the clash, had sustained multiple injuries caused by sharp weapons.
Unofficial reports said another person had also died, but there was no confirmation from the police about it. The situation in the area was described as tense.
Official sources said at about 2300 hours on Monday night, miscreants hurled bombs near a relief camp in G Udayagiri prompting the police force to rush to the spot and cordon off the entire area.
But late Monday night, miscreants blocked the roads by felling trees and attacked three villages under the Gadaguda Grampanchayat and set them ablaze. The police force could not reach the spot in time as the roads leading to the villages were blocked.
Following the torching of the houses, a violent clash erupted between the two communities, which indulged in heavy brick-batting and later exchanged fire leading to the death of one woman.