As many as seven servitors sustained burn injuries in an acid attack during a clash between two groups of servitors at the Akhandalamani Temple of the district on Wednesday night.
Reports said hot were exchanged between the two groups of servitors over performing puja for some devotees, which took an ugly turn, when a group threw acid on the sevayats of other group.
One of the servitors, Daitari Padhi, injured in the acid attack, said, “Some villagers had come to the temple for puja . They asked me to do the puja for them. However, some other servitors came and tried to forcibly take them away. When I protested, they attacked me.”
“They also attacked my friend when he came to my rescue. However, one Mrityunjay Padhi threw acid on us,” he added.
The injured servitors were rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH). Two of them are stated to be critical.
Meanwhile, police detained two servitors for interrogation.