Angul: A woman was shot dead by a youth while trying to save her husband at Kantapada Raida village under Thakurgarh police station in the district on Wednesday night.
The deceased identified as Ratani Pradhan died on the spot while her husband Anam sustained bullet injuries on his right leg. He was rushed to district headquarters hospital and later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack as his condition is stated to be critical.
The accused identified as Rabi Bhuyan of the same village had previous enmity with Anam. He was planning to eliminate Anam. As per the plan, Bhuyan barged into Anam's house last night and opened fire at him. However, Anam's wife came in front of him to save her husband and died on the spot. The accused opened a second round of fire before fleeing from the spot in which Anam sustained injuries.
The accused is absconding. Police reached the spot and seized Ratani's body for post-mortem. A case has been registered in this connection, police officials said.