Puri: A man was shot dead from point-blank range following an altercation on Puri-Bhubaneswar National Highway near Kanjia Chhak of Sakhigopal in Puri district, late on Sunday.
The deceased, identified as Purendra Behera, reportedly died on the spot. A native of Nayagarh, he used to work at a dhaba (eatery) near Kanjia Square.
According to sources, Purendra had an argument with some people, who had come to the eatery for dinner, over the taste of the food. They moved to another dhada without paying the bill. Following which, the deceased followed them and asked them to make the payment. The irate customers then fired on him, killing him on the spot, and fled the spot.
Following the incident, locals blocked the Bhubaneswar-Puri NH by burning tyres, demanding compensation for the bereaved family.
On being informed, Satyabadi Police reached the spot and seized the body for postmortem. Further investigation is on.
