A youth was shot dead and his father was injured in firing by three bike-borne miscreants at Sarkantara under the Khandagiri police station on Thursday evening.
The deceased was identified as Anil Jena (26). His father Abhimanyu is admitted to the AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
Though the exact motive behind the incident was yet to be ascertained, family members of the victims alleged that the duo was targeted as they opposed drug trade in the area by a group of peddlers.
“A peddler had threatened them of dire consequences on Wednesday night. A group of youths reached the house today and fired a number of rounds. Both victims were rushed to the AIIMS, where Anil succumbed to his injuries,” said a family member.
Sources said that one of the assailants was identified as a brown sugar peddler, Bapi, and the other two were his associates.
The Khandagiri police rushed to the firing spot and started an investigation. Following the incident, palpable tension prevailed in the area.