A daylight murder shook Bhubaneswar on Monday after a lab assistant at AIIMS Bhubaneswar was reportedly shot dead by unidentified assailants. The victim, identified as Sudhanshu Khuntia, a resident of Sarkhanta village on the city outskirts, was ambushed near Ransinghpur, under Khandagiri police limits, while travelling to work at around 8 am.
According to sources, Khuntia was struck by one of three bullets fired at him while he was riding his scooter. The bullet reportedly hit his lower left chest, causing him to lose control of his vehicle and collapse on the road. Local residents took him to AIIMS Bhubaneswar in a critical condition, but he succumbed to his injuries.
Following the gunfire, panic gripped the area as reports of clashes and knife attacks surfaced between two groups, allegedly connected to an ongoing land dispute.
Additional police forces were immediately deployed to the spot to prevent further escalation.
Preliminary reports suggest the killing may have stemmed from a long-standing ancestral property dispute in the victim's native village. Police sources believe the rival group involved in the land issue may have hired or coordinated with local miscreants to carry out the shooting. Sources also indicated the attackers had been tracking the victim's daily route and time of travel for several days before executing the ambush.
The Khandagiri police have launched a thorough investigation and are examining CCTV footage from nearby roads. As of the latest reports, the police have yet to issue a formal statement regarding the incident.
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