Three persons, including a former Sarpanch, sustained critical injuries when they were attacked with sharp weapons by miscreants at Mahisakhali village under the Sadar police station in Ganjam district on Monday night.
The victims were identified as former Sarpanch Manoj Kumar Sethi, Durga Prasad Pradhan and Shankar Jena.
The incident occurred while the villagers were celebrating Sital Sasthi at night. A heated argument took place which between the injured trio and a group of youths over some matter.
Later, it took a violent turn when some youths attacked the trio with swords.
Sethi sustained critical head injuries in the attack. He was rushed to MKCG Medical College Hospital in Brahmapur by police.
A hunt has been launched by police to trace the assailants, who are still at large.