Rourkela: A 29-year-old youth was allegedly hacked to death and another seriously injured in a violent clash between rival groups in Rourkela city on Tuesday, with police linking the incident to a dispute that erupted during Raja festival celebrations.
The deceased was identified as Tofaan Bindhani, a resident of Golghar Rameshwarapali slum and a helper with the Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC). The injured youth, Shubhendu Sethi, was initially admitted to Rourkela Government Hospital and later shifted to Ispat General Hospital (IGH) after his condition deteriorated.
According to police and local sources, tensions had been simmering between youths from the Rameshwarapali and Narayanapali slums since June 14, when an argument broke out over the organisation of a game at the Golghar Community Centre playground during Raja festivities. The dispute soon escalated into hostility between the two groups.
Fearing retaliation amid the growing tension, Tofaan reportedly remained indoors on June 15. On Tuesday, after returning home from work around 11.30 a.m., he went to the playground near Sector-6 Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir, where he was having snacks with local children at about 2 p.m.
Witnesses alleged that more than 30 youths from the rival group suddenly arrived at the playground, surrounded Tofaan and launched a brutal attack. During the assault, one of the attackers allegedly struck him with a battle axe, causing him to collapse on the spot. The assailants fled immediately after the attack.
Children present at the playground alerted the emergency response service by dialling 112. Tofaan was rushed to Rourkela Government Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Police recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem examination. A case has been registered and an investigation is underway.
Sector-7 police have launched a manhunt to identify and apprehend those involved in the killing.
