BHADRAK:AT least six persons were injured in an acid attack by a group of sevayats (priests) on another group at Akhandalamani temple under Aradi police outpost limits in Bhadrak district on Wednesday night. Two persons were arrested on Thursday.
Police said two sevayat groups, led by Mrutyunjaya Padhi and Daitari Padhi, indulged in a pitched battle on the temple campus over performing puja rituals for a family. As has been the practice, sevayats of the temple guide devotees to the sanctum sanctorum and perform the puja rituals.
On Wednesday, the clash erupted after both the groups claimed to have taken the responsibility of the family and perform puja rituals. A meeting was called by the sevayat groups in the evening in an effort to sort out the matter, but the whole exercise failed to yield any result.
Subsequently, members of one group threw acid on some rival group members when they were returning home, causing burn injuries to at least six persons.They were rushed to District Headquarters Hospital, Bhadrak and later shifted to SCB Medical in Cuttack as their condition worsened.
Officer in-charge of Aradi Outpost Braja Kishore Das said two persons have been arrested so far for their involvement in the incident, while efforts are on to nab three others soon.