Firing over suspected love affairs leaves 3 people critically injured

By Shirikant Panda

Cuttack, Feb. 13: . 13: At least three members of a family, including a man and his son, were critically injured after a bike-borne miscreant allegedly opened fire at them near Majhisahi at Jenapada in Odisha’s Athagarh on Sunday evening over a suspected love affair.

The injured were identified as Bansidhar Nayak, Jitendra Nayak and Dinabandhu Nayak.

According to sources, the miscreant who was identified as Lituna Jena fired eight rounds of bullets at the trio while they were sitting at the village club and fled the spot.

The trio sustained serious bullet injuries in the attack. They were  immediately rushed to Athagrah hospital. Later, they were shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack after their health deteriorated, sources informed.

Though the exact reason behind the firing is unknown, locals suspected that the trio was attacked over a love affair.

Sources informed that Lituna, a retired army jawan, was nursing a grudge against the victims as they opposed his extra-marital affairs.

On being informed about the incident, Athagarh Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) along with other police officers rushed to the spot and launched an investigation into the matter.

The police has launched a manhunt to arrest the accused.

“We have identified the accused and launched a manhunt to arrest him. Prima facie, it appears that the accused fired at the victims as they opposed his extra-marital relationship. However, the motive behind the crime can be ascertained after the investigation process is over,” said Bamadeba Swain, inspector of Athagarh police station.