A youth was injured in a firing that took place at 6 pm on Tuesday near Bauriapalanda here. He was identified as Bipin Behera.
Sources said Behera is an office staff in the Paradip-Erasama Silpa Vikash Parishad headed by its president Rakesh Pattnaik (Raka). He was on board an Innova car bearing no.OR21A6669, when the firing took place. Four other office bearers of the union, besides Rakesh, too were with the victim.
Unknown assailants fired from a close range and the bullet pierced the vehicle and entered into the thigh of Behera. He was rushed to the nearby Biju Memorial Hospital and the doctors after giving preliminary treatment referred him to Cuttack.
The police have started their investigation into the incident. It is suspected that Raka, who had separated from the union headed by Bapi Sarkhel and formed his own union, might have been targeted by his rivals.