NABARANGPUR (Odisha) — A woman litigant allegedly attacked a magistrate, a government prosecutor and a court officer with an iron rod inside the premises of the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court at Jharigaon in Odisha's Nabarangpur district on Saturday, while the court was in session, Live Law reported.

Source: Live Law

According to Live Law, the woman, identified in its report as Sanamati Majhi, arrived at the court with an iron rod concealed in a bag. She allegedly went up to Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) Pradeep Patnaik and struck him on the head, causing a bleeding injury.

JMFC Smita Lakra intervened to restrain the woman and suffered a minor injury in the scuffle, the report said. A Court Sub-Inspector who came out of his office on hearing the commotion and tried to pacify the woman was also struck on the head and bled. All three — the magistrate, the APP and the court officer — were given immediate medical attention and have since been discharged, Live Law reported.

Recounting the incident to Sambad English, APP Pradeep Patnaik said the woman first tried to enter the courtroom while he was questioning a witness and was stopped by security personnel. He said she attacked him with the weapon concealed in her bag after he came out and went towards the bar room, hitting him on the head, and that he was admitted to hospital. An injured security official gave a similar account, saying he was hurt while trying to protect the magistrate.

Source: Sambad English

The motive for the attack is not established. Live Law said the intention and cause are not yet clear. Sambad English reported a suspicion that the incident may be linked to a previous case, which remains unconfirmed, and India Today's report, citing the APP, linked the woman to a pending domestic dispute case before the same court — Awaaz Punjab is treating that link as an allegation, not a finding. Early reports also differed on the accused woman's name: Sambad English named her Sanmati Pujari, while Live Law and India Today named her Sanamati Majhi.

The attack, carried out inside court premises during a live session, raises fresh questions about security screening at district courts, where litigants routinely enter with bags. The reports read for this story did not carry a police statement on arrests or the case registered, and further official details are awaited.