In a bizarre incident that has sparked widespread outrage and concerns over law and order in Odisha’s capital, four youths were arrested by Laxmisagar police on Saturday for using a long sword to cut a birthday cake and then brandishing it to create fear among local residents.
The accused, who recorded the event and uploaded it on social media, were caught promoting violence and intimidating the public in a blatant display of criminal bravado.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Niranjan Nayak alias Kalia (38), Gagan Nayak alias Kapun (32), Somnath Singh alias Somu (25), and Pratyush Patsahani alias Rocky (26), all residents of the Laxmisagar area. Police seized the sword used in the incident from their possession.
According to reports, the incident occurred on Friday evening when Sub-Inspector Jagannath Nayak and his team were on patrol duty in the Laxmisagar BDA Colony and surrounding areas under the police station’s jurisdiction. They received information about a group of anti-social elements gathering illegally near the Laxmisagar High School boundary. Upon investigation, the police found the youths celebrating a birthday by cutting a cake with a sword, followed by waving it menacingly, using abusive language, and creating a loud disturbance in a public place.
The group not only terrorised the people but also filmed the entire episode, uploading it on social media to glorify their violent antics and instil fear in the community. Some of the accused are habitual offenders with prior criminal records, involved in organised crime that poses a serious threat to public peace and order. Notably, Niranjan Nayak alias Kalia has three previous cases registered against him at the Laxmisagar police station.
The viral video has brought to light that the birthday being celebrated belonged to the main accused in a recent murder case involving the killing of a sweet shop owner on a busy road in Samantarapur, Bhubaneswar. Supporters of the murder accused gathered and used the sword for the cake-cutting.
Acting on directives from the station in charge, a raid was conducted, leading to the arrest of the four accused and the confiscation of the sword. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to their actions.
The incident has raised serious questions about the deteriorating law and order situation in the capital, with residents expressing shock over such open displays of weaponry and criminal behaviour.
Police officials stated that such acts not only endanger public safety but also encourage a culture of violence through social media. Further investigations are underway to determine if more individuals were involved and to check for any links to other criminal activities in the area. The accused have been remanded for further questioning, and authorities have urged the public to report any similar suspicious gatherings to maintain community safety.
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