Purushottampur witnessed a violent clash late Friday night when a wedding procession in Kushapur village under Baghal Panchayat in Ganjam district turned chaotic.
Around 1 a.m., two groups of youths engaged in a heated argument that quickly escalated into a brutal attack, leaving five people critically injured.
According to eyewitnesses, several youths from Surat and Bengaluru had joined the celebrations with dance and music. During the procession, Rohit attacked Shubham with a stone, striking his head. The assault triggered retaliation from Shubham’s supporters, who launched a group attack.
In the ensuing violence, Rohit, Krishna, and Pramod sustained serious injuries. Local committee member Prakash Nahak, who tried to intervene and calm both sides, also became a victim of the assault. All the injured were first taken to Purushottampur hospital and later shifted to Berhampur Medical College for treatment.
Villagers reported that many participants in the procession were intoxicated, and the clash stemmed from minor accusations and counter‑accusations rather than political rivalry or long‑standing enmity. Police reached the village soon after and began an investigation. Sources confirmed that some individuals have been detained for questioning.
The incident has sparked concern about rising violence during festive gatherings and highlighted the need for stricter monitoring of public celebrations. Authorities assured that further action will follow once the investigation is complete.
