Baripada: A minor boy was critically injured in a knife attack by miscreants during the ongoing Jagadhatri Mela in Baripada in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.
The 16-year-old boy, identified as Akash Nayak of Budamara village in Bangiriposi, was rushed to the district headquarters hospital following the incident that took place on Friday.
Doctors later referred him to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. The attack was believed to be a fallout of an argument with some local youths.
Sources said Akash and some of his friends had come to Baripada for the Jagadhatri Mela, a grand cultural event which draws a huge crowd every year. While roaming the fair, he went to attend nature’s call to Bhanjpur railway station in the vicinity. However, some local youths confronted him and subsequently the two sides got into a scuffle. When the fight escalated, one of the youths from the opposing group attacked Akash with a knife.
Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel present near the site nearby rushed to his rescue when they saw him collapsing after being stabbed. Akash was rushed to the DHH and later shifted to SCB Cuttack when his health deteriorated.
Police have registered a case and beefed up security to keep anti-social elements in check following the incident.
