Nabarangpur, Nov 10 (UDN): In a shocking incident inside a courtroom in Odisha, a woman allegedly attacked a magistrate, a government lawyer and a court security officer with an iron rod at the Jharigaon Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in Nabarangpur district.
The incident, which reportedly took place on Saturday during court proceedings, came to light after CCTV footage of the alleged assault surfaced. The footage reportedly shows the woman suddenly pulling out an iron rod and attacking people inside the court premises.
The accused has been identified as Sanmati Majhi, a resident of Karsahandi village who works as an Anganwadi worker.
Iron Rod Hidden Inside Vegetable Bag
According to reports, the incident occurred after Sanmati’s statement was recorded in connection with a dowry harassment case.
CCTV footage reportedly shows her sitting and speaking with a lawyer before suddenly taking out an iron rod allegedly concealed inside a vegetable bag.
She then allegedly launched an attack on government lawyer Pradeep Patnaik, striking him on the head and leaving him injured.
When the magistrate intervened in an attempt to stop the assault, the woman allegedly attacked him as well.
Court security officer Minaketan Gantayat also sustained injuries while attempting to intervene and control the situation.
Government Lawyer, Security Officer Sustain Head Injuries
The sudden violence created panic inside the court premises.
Government lawyer Pradeep Patnaik and security officer Minaketan Gantayat reportedly suffered head injuries in the attack. The magistrate was also allegedly assaulted while trying to prevent further violence.
The incident has raised serious concerns over security arrangements inside court premises and the safety of judicial officers, lawyers and other court personnel.
Woman Detained, Police Begin Investigation
Following the incident, Jharigaon police detained Sanmati Majhi and initiated an investigation into the matter.
However, the exact motive behind the alleged attack remains unclear.
Police are expected to examine the CCTV footage and other evidence to establish the sequence of events and determine what led to the sudden violence inside the courtroom.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the local legal community, with the alleged assault on judicial and court personnel raising fresh questions about security inside judicial establishments in Odisha.