BJP Bhubaneswar district president Harekrushna Khuntia sustained critical injuries when he was attacked by a group of miscreants near the bustling Ekamra Haat under the Kharavel Nagar police station here on Friday.
Reports said Khuntia was sitting in a friend’s office near the Ekamra Haat at around 1.30 pm when 10 youths armed with hockey sticks barged into the office and thrashed him mercilessly. The assailants also ransacked the office before leaving the spot.
The BJP leader was rushed to the Capital Hospital.
Interestingly, though Khuntia’s friend was present at the spot, the miscreants did not touch him. Getting information, police rushed to the spot and began an investigation into the incident.
Though the motive behind the attack was yet to be ascertained, it was suspected that the incident is fallout of intra-BJP rivalry. Sources said Khuntia has alleged involvement of Bhubaneswar BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi’s representative in the incident.