Bhadrak: A violent clash triggered by a dispute over flying chaff during paddy harvesting claimed the life of a man in Shyamsundarpur village under Pirhata police station limits in Bhadrak district on Wednesday evening.
The incident occurred when Bijay Behera and his family were harvesting paddy using a machine.
According to sources, a buffalo herd belonging to another villager was grazing nearby, and the dust and chaff from the harvesting process began blowing towards the animals. This led the buffalo owner to object, resulting in a heated argument between him and Bijay.
Family members alleged that sometime after the initial altercation, the buffalo owner, identified as Kalyan Behera, along with his family members, returned to the spot and forcibly stopped the harvesting machine. When Bijay protested, Kalyan Behera and his family allegedly launched a sudden and brutal attack on him.
Bijay reportedly fell critically ill following the assault. His family rushed him to the Tihidi Community Health Centre, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The victim’s relatives have alleged that the attack was not spontaneous and was carried out due to long-standing personal enmity. They have demanded strict legal action and exemplary punishment for those involved in the incident.
