A day after a group clash erupted at Remuna, Baleswar district witnessed another such situation in the Kantabania area under the Sadar police limits on Wednesday night.
People of two villages, Kantabania and Dahapada, were engaged in a brawl after some unidentified miscreants fired at a 28-year-old man of Kantabania. In the subsequent clash, three persons of Dahapada were injured.
The firing victim, identified as Biranchi Das, has sustained bullet injuries in his back and is undergoing treatment in the Baleswar District Headquarters Hospital (DHH).
The three injured of Dahapada, Bhanumati Nayak (40), Mamata Nayak(35) and Latamani Nayak (28), are also undergoing treatment at the DHH.
Two platoons of police force, one in each village, have been deployed to thwart any deterioration of law and order.
Sadar IIC Mamata Sahoo and Town IIC Sarojini Nayak along with forces carried out raids last night. However, police were yet to identify the culprits.
The police suspect old business rivalry, mostly over sand lifting from the Budhabalanga river, was the reason behind the incident.
According to sources, Das was returning home from Phuladi when goons opened fire at him from and sped away. The locals rushed him to the DHH.
In the meantime, efforts are on to diffuse the tensioin in Remuna area which occurred on Tuesday night following clash between groups over bike parking at the Remuna Mahatosav venue.
A peace committee involving members of either groups was held under the chairmanship of former MLA Pradipta Panda. Several elected representatives attended.
The meeting decided to cancel the stage and cultural programme of the Mahotsav on February 6 (Wednesday) evening in view of the tension.