In a shocking incident late Friday night, a dispute over a bar bill escalated into a violent shooting at Cosmos Club, located near the main road in Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar.
The altercation resulted in the injury of a bar bouncer, identified as Suria alias Suryakant Pradhan, who was shot by a group of inebriated youths. Following a swift investigation, the Chandrasekharpur police arrested 11 suspects from various regions, including Puri, Konark, Khordha, Cuttack, Barang, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, and Kendrapara.
The incident unfolded around 1:30 AM when the bar was closing. According to reports, four youths, heavily intoxicated, refused to leave the premises despite repeated requests from Suria. The group allegedly created a ruckus, paid only a fraction of their bill, and vandalised glassware outside the bar before leaving around 2 AM.
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Driven by vengeance, the group ambushed Suria near a road in Gadakana around 4 AM as he was heading home. The assailants attacked him and opened fire, leaving him critically injured. Suria is currently undergoing treatment at KIMS Hospital, where his condition is reported to be stable.
The arrested individuals, identified as Badal Swain (21), Chinmay Kumar Deo (21), Sahil Das (23), Omkar Patra (29), Ranjit Kumar Sahu (31), Alok Kumar Sahu (29), Achyutananda Lenka (25), Jagrata Panda (32), Babru Pradhan (25), Ashish Patra (32), and Rajesh Nayak (24), were charged under sections 126(2), 109(1), and 3(5) of the BNS, along with sections 25/27 of the Arms Act. They were produced in court on Saturday, as confirmed by the Commissionerate Police.
The administration has taken strict action in response to the incident. CCTV footage was reviewed, revealing that the bar was operating beyond the permitted hours, violating regulations. Acting on the Collector’s orders, the Cosmos Club was sealed for non-compliance, pending further directives.
This incident has raised concerns about late-night bar operations and public safety in Bhubaneswar. The police continue to investigate to ensure all culprits are brought to justice, while the sealing of the bar serves as a stern warning to establishments flouting regulations.
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