Jagatsinghpur: A criminal was injured as a country-made bomb exploded in his hand while he was trying to kidnap a girl in the district on Sunday night.
According to sources, Rakesh Sethi (27) of Gangada village was in one-sided love with a girl of Gobarikula under Naugaon police limits. As the girl did not show interest in him, Sethi decided to kidnap her.
Sethi hired six goons including criminal Samira Ray and reached the girl’s village in a car and a motorcycle. They asked a local boy to call the girl outside. As soon as she arrived, Sethi’s gang tried to kidnap her at gunpoint.
After the girl raised an alarm, her family members came out and a tussle took place. Ray brought out the country-made bomb and threatened to hurl it at the girl’s family. But, the bomb exploded in his hand injuring him critically.
Meanwhile, the locals rushed to the spot and overpowered three miscreants including Ray. Three others including Sethi managed to flee in the car. Later, the villagers handed over the three persons to Naugaon police.
Naugoan IIC Gobardhan Sahoo said two accused persons, Devi Prasad Mishra and Shakti Chandan Mohanty, have been arrested while Ray is undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack. Police have seized a bike, a toy revolver and unused country-made bombs from their possession.
The two accused were produced in court and a manhunt has been launched to nab the absconding three persons, police said.