Four youths sustained critical injuries after they were beaten up black and blue near Boula Chhak by locals of Bidanasi on Sunday night on suspicion of being cattle lifters.
The incident occurred soon after the youths entered Bidanasi in a vehicle. Suspecting them to be cattle lifters, a few locals nabbed them and thrashed them severely. Though the youths tried to flee the spot, they failed to do so as their vehicle was torched by the locals. On the other hand, president of Bidanasi village committee Dilip Behera accepted the fact that illegal cattle transport is rampant in the area. However, he said that he was unaware of the incident.
“All of us are unaware of the incident. After getting information, we reached the spot. An FIR has been lodged at Bidanasi police station in connection with the incident” said Behera.
Meanwhile, the injured youths were admitted to the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack here. Reports of cattle theft had recently surfaced from Bidanasi and Sector 10 and 11 due to which the locals were keeping a vigil to nab the cattle lifters red-handed.