Bhubaneswar, Feb 27: Two brothers of renowned jatra artist Bapi Panda were grievously injured after being attacked by unidentified miscreants during the Maha Shivratri celebration in Odisha’s Balasore district on Wednesday night.
The incident took place in front of a Shiva temple at Nathapani Chhaka while devotees were engaged in the grand celebration inside the shrine. The victims have been identified as Bapu Panda and Babi Panda. According to sources, an altercation broke out between the two brothers and a group of miscreants over an unknown issue. The argument quickly escalated, and the assailants attacked them with sharp weapons, leaving them critically injured.
Following the attack, the miscreants fled the scene. Local residents immediately came to the aid of the injured and rushed them to the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital (DHH). However, as Babi Panda’s condition worsened, he was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for advanced treatment.
Upon receiving information, a team from Balasore Town Police Station reached the spot and initiated an investigation. The DSP also visited the site. While the exact motive behind the attack remains unclear, police suspect past enmity. A manhunt is underway to trace the attackers.
