Dhenkanal: Unidentified miscreants thrashed president of Ranjagola village, Lingaraj Sahoo and also fired at him near Khajurikata Chhak under Balimi police limits of Dhenkanal district today.
According to reports, while Sahoo had gone to the village market, some miscreants reached the spot in a car and waylaid him. They dragged Sahoo and beat him up with iron rods and shot him in his leg, informed sources.
Sahoo was rushed to the nearby hospital and later shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. His condition is stated to be stable.
“The miscreants came in a car and thrashed me with iron rods mercilessly,” said Sahoo.
Though police probe is on, past enmity is suspected behind the attack.
Dhenkanal SP Santosh Nayak said “As per the information we have received, workers of a nearby crusher unit had thrashed Sahoo and fired at him. The police have already identified the culprits.”
Meanwhile, supporters of Sahoo staged a road blockade near Ranjagola Chhak protesting the attack, thereby affecting vehicular movement on a road connecting Hindol with NH-55.