Sixteen families of Shashang village under Athagarh block in Cuttack district were exiled from their homes for not casting their votes to a rival faction of a particular political party during the recent panchayat elections.

They were forced to leave their homes after they were denied to access water and other facilities at the village. They were slapped with a fine of Rs5,000 for talking to a particular person at the village.

The victims lodged a complaint with police and appealed to the district administration about their plight, but all their efforts to return to their homes went in vain.

According to reports, Out of a total 230 families residing at Shashang in Chhagaon panchayat, while 214 are supporters of a group of particular political party, the remaining 16 families support another group of the same party. The group rivalry had turned uglier in the recent past ahead of the panchayat polls.

After the announcement of the poll verdict, 16 families, who were supporting another group, faced wrath and threats from other families, whose candidates won the polls. They were denied access to the facilities at the village. After facing physical and mental humiliations, the male members of the families left their houses.

Some family members of the opponent groups were attacked by villagers after they returned to houses on March 22. One was admitted to the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack in a critical condition following the attack.

A complaint was lodged at the Gurudijhatia police station after the attack, but no action has been taken by the police so far. The victims also approached the district Collector urging him to take action against the accused and bring back peace at the

village. The district administration has ordered a probe into the incident.