A 28‑year‑old youth was hacked with a machete in broad daylight in Bargarh town’s Hatpada area on Tuesday evening, local police said. The attack took place under Bargarh Town police limits, where the victim, identified as Amit Mallik of Katakiapada, was confronted by assailants over a long‑standing personal dispute and then assaulted from behind with the weapon. The blow inflicted a deep wound on his left shoulder, causing heavy bleeding, after which he collapsed and was rushed to a nearby health centre by local residents.
Police have since arrested four accused in connection with the incident: Md Sanu (29), Afraj Khan (22), his brother Sindhbaz Khan (29), and Raju Seikh (24), all residents of Pathanpada locality. The machete used in the attack has been seized, and the accused were produced in court and remanded to judicial custody as the investigation continues. Sub‑divisional police officer PB Tripathy said the victim was later shifted to VIMSAR, Burla, for advanced treatment and is now reported to be stable.
The incident sparked tension in the Hatpada area, prompting a heavy police presence to restore order and prevent any retaliatory confrontation. Police have invoked multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to grievous hurt and use of a deadly weapon, in line with the nature of the attack. Preliminary probes indicate that past animosity between the victim and the accused was the primary motive behind the machete assault.
Residents of Bargarh town have expressed alarm over the recurrence of violent public attacks in the past few weeks. This is the third such incident reported from Bargarh in less than two months, including a double‑murder case in a group clash and another fatal machete‑style attack in nearby Hatpada earlier in February. The repeated spate of violent crimes in public spaces has raised concerns among locals about safety and law‑and‑order in the area.
Authorities have assured that they are intensifying patrols and witness‑based investigations to prevent further incidents and to establish a clear line of criminal conduct in such cases. Police have also urged the public to avoid settling disputes through violence and to instead use administrative and legal channels to resolve personal conflicts. The case is still under active investigation, with investigators examining CCTV footage, witness statements, and other forensic evidence to build a fuller account of the attack.