A police constable suffered a brutal attack in broad daylight near Sai Temple in Phulbani, Odisha’s Kandhamal district. The shocking incident left the officer critically injured.
Reports confirmed that two intoxicated youths assaulted Constable Manoranjan Sabat with sharp weapons and a heavy weighing scale. The constable, dressed in civilian clothes, confronted the accused before they knocked him down and repeatedly kicked him on the face, chest, and neck. The attackers, identified as Santosh Pradhan and Anjan Swain of Salunki Sahi, escalated the assault by using a knife and a weighing weight.
Witnesses initially hesitated to intervene. Later, journalists nearby rushed to the scene after learning about the attack. With the help of locals, they overpowered the assailants and handed them over to the police. The injured constable was immediately taken to Phulbani district headquarters hospital in a private vehicle for treatment.
Phulbani Town Police arrested both accused and registered a case. The incident has sparked outrage among residents, who questioned their safety if criminals can attack police officers so openly. Citizens demanded strict action against drunkards and criminal elements operating in the town.
