Violence ahead of panchayat elections in the State has claimed yet another life as a Congress worker, who was critically injured after being allegedly attacked by BJD workers in Malkangiri district, died while undergoing treatment in hospital on Wednesday morning.
The deceased was identified as Sapani Babali of MV-8 village in Malkangiri block.
As per a complaint lodged by his family members with police, Sapani had been attacked by a group of persons while he was campaigning for his party on Monday evening.
The attackers dropped Sapani at his house in a critical condition at around 12.30 am. His family members had admitted him to hospital on Tuesday morning. However, he succumbed to his injuries in the hospital on Wednesday.
Sapani’s family has alleged that he was thrashed by some BJD workers leading to his death. Police have started investigation into the incident after registering a case on the basis of the complaint.
In yet another pre-panchayat poll violence incident, as many as 14 persons, including six police personnel, were severely injured as workers belonging to two rival political groups indulged in a fight over some poll issues in Ganjam district on Wednesday.
Besides, the body of a middle-aged man, who was stated to be a supporter of a particular party, was also found on the Keonjhar town outskirts. It was alleged that he was murdered over political rivalry.