CUTTACK: Tension gripped Gopalpur Samal Sahi under Cuttack Sadar police limits after three persons including a woman and a minor girl were injured as four youths opened fire at villagers during New Year celebration on Saturday night.
Sources said the local youths had organised a community feast in the village to celebrate the occasion. Villagers including women and children had congregated at the spot to take part in the celebration.
Locals said at about 10 pm, prime accused Akash Sahu (31) of the village came along with three unidentified youths and opened fire at them as he was not allowed to participate in the celebration. Akash, who is a drug addict and an anti-social, took the step in retaliation, the villagers informed.
Police said Akash had an altercation with local youths over the issue following which he left the spot. He came back with his associates and fired indiscriminately at the gathering, injuring three persons including a minor.
The injured were identified as Rabindra Samal (48), Sharmila Samal (43) and Sarita Samal (17). All the three injured were admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital. Their condition is stated to be stable.
Meanwhile, the locals have expressed their resentment over the failure of police to nab Akash. Though raids were conducted by a special team, Akash managed to give police the slip, a senior police official said.
Sources said while Akanu and one of his associates escaped via Kathajodi river embankment during the police raid, his other two associates fled in a car which they had snatched from one Padma Lochan Mishra of Nuagada at gun point near Telengapentha on Sunday morning.
The car, which later met with an accident near Sikharpur, has been seized but the injured duo managed to escape, ACP Nimain Charan Sethy said and added that efforts are on to nab Akash and others involved in the incident.