A long-standing land dispute between a man and his younger brother allegedly turned violent in Odisha’s Balasore district on Sunday, leaving a person critically injured. The fatal incident has unfolded in Bhaskarganj area under Sahadevkhunta police limits near Fakir Mohan Golei Chhak.

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The injured man has been identified as Rakesh Saha, who is currently undergoing treatment at Balasore district headquarters hospital (DHH) after sustaining serious injuries in the attack.

According to the victim man’s family members, tension over ancestral property had been continuing between the two brothers for nearly five years. The family alleged that the elder brother had illegally taken control of the ancestral property, and the dispute intensified after the younger brother raised objections over the matter.

In the morning, the conflict allegedly escalated into violence when the elder brother, along with a few associates, attacked Rakesh Saha with deadly weapons. The fatal assault left him critically injured on the spot. Locals and family members immediately rushed him to the DHH for emergency treatment.

Following the incident and on being informed by some locals, cops from Sahadevkhunta police station reached the spot and initiated a preliminary investigation into the matter. Officers are examining the circumstances that led to the attack and recording statements from family members and residents.

However, no official statement has yet been issued by the local police regarding the exact sequence of events. The accused elder brother has also not commented on the allegations so far.

The incident has sparked concern in the locality, with residents expressing worry over the growing number of violent disputes arising out of family and property-related conflicts. Police are expected to take further action after completing the initial probe and reviewing medical reports of the injured victim.

“My husband had gone to the market. I was at home when he returned home from a nearby temple, shouting for help. When I enquired about what happened, he said he had an attack. Blood was profusely coming out of the wounds on his shoulder and hand,” Rakesh Saha’s wife, Banita, expressed to OTV when contacted.

Reported By: Satyajit Senapati