The Commissionerate police on Sunday arrested three persons in connection with the killing of a youth of the Gadakana area at Press Chhack under the Saheed Nagar police station here on Saturday.
The police also seized a car, a scooter and a knife, which is suspected to be the weapon of crime, from the possession of the accused, who are residents of Nayapalli. They were identified as Milu, Satya and Jitendra.
The police ruled out old enmity between the two groups, saying the incident occurred due to sudden provocation. They are interrogating the accused, to ascertain what circumstances led to the crime.
The deceased Niranjan Parida and three of his friends were having snacks at Press Chhack when they had an altercation with the accused youths.
However, the accused attacked Niranjan and his friend with sharp weapons before fleeing from the spot.
Some locals rushed the injured to the Railway Hospital, where Niranjan was declared dead.
His friends were later shifted to a private hospital in the city as their condition deteriorated.
Following the incident, irate locals had held a road blockade demanding immediate arrest of the youths.
However, the death of a youth in a brawl in a crowded area has sent shockwaves among the city denizens.