Four persons allegedly attacked a small-time trader couple and burnt down their kiosk at Jayadev Vihar area of the City on Monday. While the husband was badly thrashed, the wife alleged that the four misbehaved with her, torn her clothes in public and attacked her.
The attack allegedly came in retaliation to what the trader Sachidananda Parida and his wife Alaka did to one Rabi Singh, an anti-social. Police said Singh had come to the kiosk of the couple to buy something when he had an altercation with Sachidananda and Alaka. After he allegedly misbehaved with them, the couple gave him a round of thrashing. Singh sustained serious injuries in the attack and had to be taken to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack. This, police said, triggered the retaliation. A few hours later, four of Singh’s friends arrived at Gandhi Basti, the slum near Jayadev Vihar where the couple own the kiosk, and stumbled upon Alaka who was returning home with her daughter. She was attacked and humiliated by the four who allegedly tore her clothes in public glare. When Sachidananda came to her rescue, he was assaulted severely.
When Nayapalli Police reached the spot, the four had fled. The police took the couple to Capital Hospital for medical examination. The four then re-appeared at the attack spot and torched the couple’s cabin. Police later arrested the four, identified as Krushna Chandra Singh, Harischandra Singh, Prasanna Banara and Sk Kalu. Two cases were lodged from both the sides. Sachidananda was also arrested. Police also plan to arrest Singh after his recovery.