An auto-rickshaw that was vandalised by anti-socials at Saliasahi. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 3: City police today arrested four persons after a 35-year-old man sustained bullet injuries in a between two groups in the Saliasahi slum under Nayapalli police station last night.

The injured man, Sreedhar Rout, a shop owner, has been admitted to Capital Hospital. The incident took place around 10pm. The police also seized a country made pistol and two daggers from the accused persons who were forwarded to the court.

Alleging that more people were involved in the incident, the residents of the slum staged a demonstration outside the Nayapalli police station this morning and demanded the arrest of all the culprits. The protest was called off after the police assured the slum-dwellers that efforts would be made to arrest all those involved in the clash.

Police have registered a case under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapons), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 307 (attempt to murder), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of rupees fifty), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, besides Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act.

Sources said last night shop owners of the slum were attacked by some young men who were demanding money.

The shopkeepers alleged that the youths had extorted money from them in the past as well. Last evening, when they refused to pay money, the youths started vandalising their shops.

Around 10pm, nearly 25 youths came armed with pistols and sharp weapons and attacked the shopkeepers. “They were carrying swords, daggers and guns. They ransacked the shops smashing down the wares,” said Basant Rout, one of the victims. Rout’s auto-rickshaw was also damaged. The attackers also ransacked a school building in the area.

“The youths threatened us and then fired some shots in the air. One of the bullets fired by them hit my palm as I tried to save myself by grabbing the pistol,” said Sreedhar Rout.

The firing terrorised the slum-dwellers who ran helter-skelter for cover. The attackers damaged at least five shops besides some houses in the locality. The situation came under control only after the Nayapalli police rushed to the spot.