AIIMS Bhubaneswar employee chased, shot dead on way to work; group clash erupts at crime scene

A daylight murder rocked Bhubaneswar on Monday after a lab assistant of AIIMS Bhubaneswar was reportedly shot dead by unidentified assailants near Ransinghpur, under Khandagiri police limits, while he was on his way to work around 8 am on Monday. The deceased has been identified as Sudhanshu Khuntia, a resident of Sarkhanta village on the city outskirts.

According to sources, three rounds of bullets were fired at Shukla when he was riding his two-wheeler towards the hospital.

One bullet reportedly struck his lower left chest, causing him to lose control of his vehicle and collapse on the road. Locals rushed him to AIIMS Bhubaneswar in a critical condition, where he succumbed to injuries.

Shooting Causes Clashes In Area

Following the gunfire, panic gripped the area as reports emerged of clashes and knife attacks between two groups allegedly connected to an ongoing land dispute in Sarkhanta. Additional police forces were rushed to the spot to prevent further escalation.

Sources said the attackers appeared to have been following the victim for several days, having tracked his daily route and time of travel before launching the ambush.

Land Dispute Suspected, Open Challenge To Police

Preliminary reports suggest that the killing may have stemmed from an ancestral property dispute in the victim’s native village of Sarkhanta. Police sources said the rival group involved in the long-standing land issue may have hired or coordinated with local miscreants to carry out the shooting.

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Meanwhile, Khandagiri police have begun a thorough investigation and are examining CCTV footage from nearby roads. As of the latest reports, police have yet to issue a formal statement in this regard.