BERHAMPUR: With the elections inching closer, criminals are back into business in Ganjam district. In the fourth such incident in the last three days, four persons, including a history-sheeter, were injured in a bomb attack in the city on Sunday.
Susant Bisoi, the prime accused in the much-publicised Chicken Rabi murder case, and three of his associates were travelling on Lanjipalli road in a car when members of a rival group hurled six country bombs at them. The attack injured the four travelling in the car besides partially damaging the vehicle.
On being informed, Baidyanathpur police rushed to the spot and sent the injured to MKCG Medical College and Hospital. Preliminary investigation revealed that four youths on a motorcycle were waiting near a tea stall in Lanjipalli. When Susant’s car reached the place, they hurled bombs at the vehicle.
Police have collected the footage from CCTV cameras installed at shops near the crime spot. Further investigation is on.
Notably, Ganjam police had started a drive against criminals from 2016-end. So far, more than 200 criminals, including the high profile ones such as former MLA Ramesh Jena and ex-mayor Siba Shankar Dash, have been arrested. Besides, over 56 criminals have been injured in police encounters.
Following the crackdown, many criminals had fled the city and other areas of the district. However, some of them have returned while many have been released from jails on bail and started efforts to spread their crime empire.
On Saturday, eight persons sustained injuries in a bomb attack at Tatadapalli in Golonthara. On July 6, four persons were hurt in a bomb hurling incident in Bhanjanagar town. A firing incident had also taken place in the town on the same day.Police said Sunday’s incident was a fallout of gang war.
3 arrested in firing incident
Police arrested three youths in connection with the firing incident at Bhanjanagar bus stand on July 6. The arrested persons are as Sima Naik, Rahul Naik and Susant Naik alias Bira. One Kanhu Gouda was shot at near a trekker stand at Bhanjanagar. Kanhu escaped unhurt as the bullets missed the target.