Berhampur, Feb. 19: Criminals attacked Netaji Patra, vice-president of the Youth Congress, Berhampur town, and one of his associates, Neelanchal Bishoyi, with sharp weapons yesterday evening.

Both of them were admitted to MKCG hospital with serious injuries. Patra alleged that the attackers were BJD supporters.

“Three BJD supporters attacked me with swords near my house at Sree Khetra Bihar in the Bada Bazar police station area in the evening. They came on motorbikes,” said Patra.

They then went to Raghupati Nagar, and attacked Bishoyi, when he and one Lingaraj Das were travelling on a bike.

The criminals fled from the spot after attacking Bishoyi with sharp weapons. They also hit Lingaraj before fleeing.

Bada Bazar police admitted the injured duo to MKCG hospital.

Bishoyi has lodged an FIR with Bada Bazar police station. The police have detained three persons.

“We have intensified picketing and blocking in the area,” a police officer said.

Subash Maharana, president of the BJD Ganjam district unit, however, said his party supporters were not involved in the attack.

“BJD workers will never indulge in violence and we are following the non-violent principles of our leader Naveen Patnaik,” Maharana said.

Bhagaban Gantayat, president of the Congress Ganjam unit, presently out of Berhampur and busy with Rahul Gandhi’s Odisha visit, said over mobile phone that the administration in the state had totally collapsed.

“The BJD supporters with some local criminals have attacked Patra at a time when he is planning to contest the coming election for the Berhampur Municipal Corporation. I strongly condemn the attack,” Gantayat said.