Bhubaneswar, Jan. 7: A man allegedly assaulted a 29-year-old woman with a sharp weapon this morning at Dumduma in the city and left her grievously injured.

The victim, Tanuja Kumari Nayak, 29, suffered injuries on her neck. She was admitted to Capital Hospital and later shifted to a private hospital when her condition deteriorated.

Police said they had registered a complaint and initiated investigation into the case.

"We suspected personal enmity behind the incident. The accused has already been identified and we are trying to nab him," said deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi.

"I was on my way to Jharkhand with my brother when the man attacked me. He had been following our car. He fled after attacking me," said the victim.

Tanuja and her brother later identified the attacker as one Manas, from whom she bought a piece of land in Bhubaneswar. Though Tanuja said she was not sure of the reason behind the attack, she suspected it was related to the land.

Molesters

Police have identified four youths, who allegedly molested three girls yesterday near Nandankanan police station. The cops have also seized the motorcycles that the accused had used.

"We have identified the molesters and seized the bikes from their possession. We have also initiated an inquiry about the allegations of delay in cops reaching the spot after being alerted by the victims," said Bhoi.

The alleged incident took place when the girls and their friend were going to visit the Bhubaneswar State Botanical Garden, a popular tourist destination adjoining the Nandankanan Zoological Park. Two of the victims are Plus Three students in a state-run institute, while the other is a student of a law.

They had alleged that the incident took place during the day with many people watching. But, no one came forward to help. They also said that despite contacting the police control room, the cops reached the spot after half an hour when the attackers had fled.

Phone snatchers

Khandagiri police have busted a four-member gang of mobile phone snatchers, including two engineering students and a minor. The gang was involved in a series of mobile-snatching cases. They were active at Khandagiri and on the National Highway No. 5.

Three of the arrested persons have been identified as Bisweswara Sarangi, 18, Kartikeswara Sarangi, 18, and Asish Kumar Pradhan, 18. The fourth is a minor. All the four live at Khandagiri.

The police have seized 63 mobile phones and two motorcycles from them. They said the gang was involved in five different cases of mobile snatching.

"Acting on a tip-off, we apprehended the accused from Dumduma this morning," said the police.