Eight persons, believed to be employees of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, were assaulted allegedly by girijans near G.K. Veedhi in the Agency area of Visakhapatnam district on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident occurred when the persons were travelling by two cars from Visakhapatnam to GK Veedhi. One of the cars hit a girijan, who suffered minor bruises.
When he was being administered first aid by those travelling by the cars, a group of people from the neighbouring village rushed to the spot.
After a heated altercation, the villagers allegedly assaulted the employees.
“The employees suffered simple injuries. They have been given first aid,” said Chintapalli Inspector.
A case was registered in the G. K. Veedhi police station.
According to the police, the girijans are on the tenterhooks, as there is a rumour that some persons are reportedly lifting children from the area. Last week, a tribal woman from another mandal in the Agency area, who was found roaming near a village in G. Madugula mandal, was beaten to death by the villagers on the same suspicion.