Officials on West Bengal SIR Duty Allegedly Enter Odisha Village by ‘Mistake’, Assaulted; 72 Arrested

At least 72 people have been arrested after two officials engaged in Special Intensive Revision (SIR) work in West Bengal were allegedly assaulted by locals when they entered a village in Odisha by mistake, police said.

Incident in Balasore District

According to police, the incident occurred on February 26 when the two officials entered a village under the Raibania police station limits in Balasore district. The area shares a border with West Bengal.

Authorities said the officials had been deployed for SIR-related duties and inadvertently crossed into Odisha territory during field verification work.

Assault by Villagers

Police stated that locals confronted the officials after noticing their presence in the village. A heated argument reportedly ensued, following which the officials were allegedly assaulted.

Upon receiving information, local police rushed to the spot and rescued the two individuals. They were later provided medical attention. Their condition is said to be stable.

Arrests and Legal Action

Following the incident, a case was registered under relevant sections of the law, including charges related to assault and unlawful assembly. Police launched a search operation and arrested 72 individuals in connection with the attack.

Senior officers said further investigation is underway to identify additional persons involved and to ascertain the sequence of events that led to the confrontation.

Heightened Border Sensitivity

Officials noted that villages along the West Bengal–Odisha border often share close geographical proximity, and administrative boundaries are not always clearly demarcated on the ground. However, they emphasised that any form of violence against government officials performing duty would be dealt with strictly.

Security has been tightened in the area to prevent further tension, and coordination between the administrations of the two States is ongoing to ensure such incidents do not recur.

Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.