Ahead of elections, Bhubaneswar witnesses a spur in incidents of violence

Bhubaneswar: With elections round the corner, the capital city has witnessed an increase in violent incidences in the last couple of days. On Saturday, two miscreants opened fire at a security guard of a Kalyan Mandap on Tankapani Road in Bhubaneswar.

While the reason behind the attack is yet to be ascertained, it is being suspected that the assailants had come looking for the owner of the Kalyan Mandap.

The guard Gyanendra Mallick, who received bullet injuries on his left shoulder, was initially admitted to Capital Hospital and later shifted to a private hospital as his condition deteriorated.

As per reports, the two miscreants called Mallick, who was on duty at the Kalyan Mandap and asked him about the whereabouts of the owner. After knowing from Mallick that the owner was not present at the mandap, they asked him water. When Mallick went near them, they opened fire at him.

Police rushed to the spot after getting information and started investigation into the incident.

In another incident, two unidentified miscreants attacked two youths with stones and wooden sticks while they were sleeping on a footpath near Master Canteen in Bhubaneswar late last night. The injured youths have been admitted to Capital hospital.

Yesterday, an ex-army officer was looted and attacked with sharp weapons by some armed miscreants when he was on morning walk with his wife.

Similarly, five bike-borne assailants looted gold ornaments from a woman at gunpoint and attacked her husband and a neighbour with sharp weapons at Sailashree Vihar on Friday early morning.

Police are taking all the necessary measures to nab the miscrents. Besides, eyeing the upcoming elections, pattrolling have been intensified in the smart city, said a police official.