Bhubaneswar: In a shocking and gruesome incident that has sent shockwaves through Odisha capital, a young man was mercilessly beaten to death with an iron rod in front of his family members at Kolathia under Khandagiri police limits late on Sunday.
The deceased has been identified as Krishna Chandra Padhy, a native of Ganjam who resided here with his father and sister.
According to sources, two ma
sked miscreants barged into the residence at around 2.30 pm and launched a vicious attack on Krishna, repeatedly striking him on the head with the iron rod. His father, Himanshu Padhy, and sister were also injured while attempting to intervene and protect him. All three were rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Krishna, however, succumbed to severe head injuries.
On being informed, Khandagiri police reached the crime scene. The iron rod used in the attack was seized and the house cordoned off. A scientific team has collected blood samples and other forensic evidence from the spot, while a dog squad is expected to join the probe soon. Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena visited the location on Monday morning to supervise the investigation.
While the exact motive behind the incident remains unclear, police strongly suspect past enmity to be the reason behind the attack. A special team has been formed by the Commissionerate Police to track down the accused, who managed to flee the spot immediately after the incident.