Young people played a key role in a recent sword attack stemming from a previous feud.

In Purushottampur, a small town in the Ganjam district, a 28-year-old man named Banti Barik was brutally attacked with a sword on Sunday. It is believed that this was a premeditated murder attempt by three assailants who had a longstanding rivalry with Banti, and the incident took place near Kali Mandir Square. Banti, who hails from the nearby village of Badakharida Bananai, was immediately rushed to the Purushottampur Community Health Centre by some helpful locals.

However, due to the severity of his injuries, he had to be transferred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur for further treatment. The Purushottampur SDPO, Mr. Sujit Kumar Nayak, visited the victim in the hospital and recorded his statement.

He also inspected the crime scene as part of the ongoing investigation. It is suspected that the attack was a result of an ongoing feud between Banti and some residents of Rajpur village. This was not the first time that Banti had been targeted.

He had previously survived a similar murder attempt at Kaleswar Temple in Badakharida on May 26, 2024. According to the police, Banti had been involved in a dispute with several people from Rajpur village, and it seems that they were not afraid to resort to violence to settle their differences. On the day of the attack, Banti had gone to a nearby garage to get his motorcycle repaired.

That is when three young men, riding on a scooter, approached him and launched a brutal attack with a sword. The attackers then fled the scene, but their loud commotion had caught the attention of some bystanders who immediately raised an alarm. The police are now on the lookout for the three suspects and have launched a search operation in the area.

It is a matter of grave concern that such violence and enmity still exist in our society, and it is up to the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of innocent citizens like Banti. This is Orissa POST, Odisha's leading English daily, keeping you updated on all the latest news.