An opera staff was critically injured after being stabbed by a youth with a knife while a play was underway at Charampa in the district on Tuesday night.
The victim, identified as Jitu Padhiari, was rushed to the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack in a critical condition. According to reports, a dispute was prevailing between some youths of Bankasahi village and the opera staffs. It took an ugly turn as the youth attacked Padhiari with knife while a play was underway.
Though police were present at the spot, the accused committed the crime and managed to flee from the spot unopposed, alleged some locals. The cops have started investigation into the incident and efforts were on to apprehend the attackers.