Puri: A 35-year-old man was critically injured in a broad daylight attack by armed miscreants, who also attempted to run him over with a speeding bike in Kanas area of Puri district on Saturday.According to eyewitnesses, a group of miscreants chased Mrutyunjaya Bharimal, a resident of Dokanda village, in a crowded marketplace and launched a violent assault using a sharp weapon. The attackers repeatedly struck him and dragged him over a considerable distance, creating panic in the area.The local residents, with the help of police, later rescued the man in a critically injured state and rushed him to a nearby hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was later shifted to AIIMS-Bhubaneswar. His condition remains critical.Puri superintendent of police Prateek Singh said past enmity could be the possible motive behind the attack. “The injured man reportedly has multiple criminal cases registered against him, while the attackers too are said to have a history of criminal involvement,” he said.Puri police have formed three special teams to track the accused. Raids are being conducted at multiple locations.Former chief minister Naveen Patnaik strongly condemned the incident, stating that such brazen acts of violence in broad daylight reflect a breakdown of law and order. In a post on X, he questioned the state government’s ability to ensure public safety and alleged that criminals were operating without fear.
