Cuttack: A 36-year-old man was critically injured after he was allegedly attacked with a sword during a group clash on the occasion of the ongoing Chandan Yatra celebrations in the city on Sunday night. The incident took place near the Lakheswar area under Cuttack Sadar police station limits.Police identified the injured as Prakash Sahoo, a resident of Sadar area. He sustained grievous injuries after two unidentified miscreants allegedly attacked him with sharp weapons.Police said the incident took place around midnight when Prakash was watching the Chandan Yatra at Lakheswar area. Two men arrived on a motorcycle and while one of the accused remained on the bike, the other allegedly attacked Prakash with a sword before fleeing from the spot.Soon after the incident, videos purportedly showing the attack and chaos at the spot surfaced online and went viral. The viral clips drew sharp response from locals, with many expressing concern over rising violence during festive gatherings.Locals immediately rushed the injured youth to a nearby hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. His condition is said to be stable.Preliminary investigation revealed that previous disputes over territorial dominance and issues related to the Chandan Yatra route may have triggered the attack.Sadar IIC Tusar Sethy said, “A case has been registered in connection with the attack reported near the Chandan Yatra venue at Lakheswar. Special teams have been formed to apprehend the accused persons. Strict action will be taken against those involved.”
