Unidentified miscreants brutally attacked a devotee and looted valuables near the Jagannath Ballav parking lot here late on Tuesday night.
Three miscreants slit the throat of the devotee, identified as Pramod Jena of Cuttack, while he was returning after having a darshan of the deities at the Shreemandir. Jena further alleged that the miscreants also snatched his gold chain and wallet.
When Jena resisted the loot, the miscreants attacked him with sharp weapons and an iron rod causing grievous injuries on his neck and head.
Jena was initially rushed to a hospital in a critical condition and later shifted to the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack.
Meanwhile, a case in this connection has been registered at the Town police station and police have initiated an investigation into the incident.
The incident has again raised questions over the safety and security of devotees coming from different places to have a darshan of the deities at the Shreemandir.