Bhubaneswar: A love triangle allegedly triggered a violent gang clash between two rival groups in the Chandrasekharpur police station area of Bhubaneswar, leaving two youths seriously injured and leading to the arrest of 10 persons, police said on Saturday.
The clash took place near Buddha Vihar and the Isanesvara slum under the jurisdiction of Chandrasekharpur police station after a dispute over a love affair escalated into a confrontation between the rival ‘Uttam’ and ‘Kumbhira’ gangs.
One of the injured, identified as Shubham Saroj, son of the secretary of Buddha Vihar Colony, sustained serious injuries after he was allegedly attacked with sharp weapons. Another resident, Chandan Nayak, was also assaulted during the violence.
According to police, more than 14 persons have been identified as being allegedly involved in the incident. So far, 10 accused have been arrested, including Akash Behera alias ‘Kumbhira’, a resident of Sundarpada, who had been absconding since the clash.
Addressing a press conference, Zone-VI ACP Manas Ranjan Pradhan said the case was initially registered suo motu by Chandrasekharpur police based on a report submitted by Sub-Inspector Deb Samantaray, as no formal complaint had been lodged immediately after the incident.
According to the ACP, members of the ‘Uttam’ gang and their associates from the Salia Sahi slum allegedly returned to Buddha Vihar the following day on motorcycles and scooters armed with swords and other weapons. They allegedly attacked Shubham Saroj, inflicting injuries on his left hand, while Chandan Nayak was also assaulted.
Subsequently, based on complaints lodged by the two victims, police registered two separate cases and launched an investigation. During the probe, investigators identified the alleged mastermind and several of his associates, leading to the arrest of 10 accused.
Police seized one motorcycle, two scooters, a sword, a knife, and two wooden stumps believed to have been used in the attack. The arrests were made during raids conducted at multiple locations by teams led by the Chandrasekharpur IIC.
Police said efforts are underway to trace the remaining accused. Further investigation is in progress to establish the complete sequence of events and determine the role of each suspect in the gang violence.
