Puri: Exposing the deteriorating law and order situation in and around the Holy City, four youths hacked a 38-year-old man to death in broad daylight at Jagannath Ballav Square near Malatipatpur here Wednesday.
The attackers also slit the throat of victim Arjun Baral of Golasahi near Biraharekrushnapur. The incident created panic among locals.
Sources said the incident occurred when Baral was on his way to a private school in the locality to pick his daughter at around 10 am. The attackers chased Baral on two bikes and attacked him from the rear.
They savagely hacked Baral to death after he fell off his bike. On being informed, Additional Superintendent of Police Jagannath Pradhan, sub-divisional police officer Sushil Mishra and Sadar police in-charge Gourang Prusti reached the spot and sent the body for post-mortem to the district headquarters hospital.
A scientific team also visited the spot and launched a probe. Police seized Baral’s bike and collected samples of the blood-soaked soil from the spot. However, no complaint has been lodged with the police till last reports came in. Police suspected that the four youths killed Baral over some previous enmity. “Baral had attacked a person in connection with a dispute over timber business in 2012. Police had registered a case regarding this. Some people might have killed Baral to avenge the attack,” said Pradhan, adding that police have received some clues about the attackers and will soon arrest them.
The incident drew sharp reactions from social activists and intellectuals. “Police failed to ensure law and order in the Holy City and its outskirts. The government should take the incident seriously and act accordingly,” said a social activist.
PNN
