Two bike-borne assailants shot a man to death in broad daylight on Friday near Patnikia along the Bhubaneswar-Puri Nataional Highway while he along with his wife was going to Puri for Jagannath darshan.
The deceased was identified as Manoranjan Behera of Baghchai village in Jajpur district. His wife Renubala sustained injuries in her hand and head. However, no arrests were made so far in the case.
According to sources, the robbers who were on a Pulsar bike intercepted the couple who was also going by a bike and snatched a gold necklace from Renubala.The couple was immediately rushed to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors declared the husband brought dead.
“They (assistants) came by a bike and intercepted us. They first pulled me. When we resisted, they fired two bullets, one at me and another at my husband. While the bullet targeted at me missed, the second one hit my husband’s chest. They took away my two gold bangles and necklace while I fell unconscious,” said Renubala.
Meanwhile, Puri SP Sarthak Sarangi and the local Sakhigopal police rushed to the spot and started investigation.
“A special team has been formed to nab the culprits. All possible efforts are on to crack down the case as soon as possible,” said the SP. It was alleged that robbers were active in that particular locality. Fifteen days ago, they looted tourists who were returning to Bhubaneswar from Puri at around 2 in afternoon. locals allege that due to the inefficiency of the police, criminal activities are on the rise on this stretch of the Bhubaneswar-Puri NH-203.