Sambalpur, March 7: A councillor of Rairakhol Notified Area Council (NAC) was stabbed by a youth following a brawl over parking of vehicles at Rairakhol, 60km from here, today.

Sunil Pradhan, a second-time councillor of Rairakhol NAC, went to attend a marriage ceremony, where he had an altercation with one Bijay Pratap Singh over car parking. “I was about to enter the marriage venue, when a youth asked me to take my bike out of the parking place. I ignored his intimidation and proceeded towards the venue. Suddenly, he stabbed my back with a sharp knife,” said Pradhan.

Pradhan, who sustained multiple injuries, was rushed to Rairakhol Hospital. From there he was later shifted to the Veer Surendra Sai Medical College and Hospital at Burla.

“A dispute has taken place between the residents of Rathsahi and a mutt over a piece of land, where the mutt has proposed to build a school. Many outsiders had gathered at Rairakhol to protect the mutt. The anti-social, who stabbed me could be one among them,” said Pradhan.

“Many outsiders have intruded upon our locality. Police should have been on alert and enquired about their identity,” said Pradhan’s brother Aditya.

“The accused has been arrested and booked under Sections 323, 324, 326, 307 of the Indian Penal Code, and 7th Criminal Law Amendment Act,” said AB. Guru, police officer investigating the case.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that accused, Bijaya Pratap Singh, hails from Uttar Pradesh, he added.