Bhubaneswar, March 28: A youth sustained injuries after his friend attacked him with a sharp weapon last night in Bomikhal area following a brawl over the selling of land. The youth has been admitted to a private hospital.

According to the police, land dealer Nigam Prasad Tripathy (30) and the accused Dillip Samal, a resident of Angul district and a plumber, knew each other for last few months. Nigam, who hailed from Balichandrapur area in Jajpur district, had taken Rs 1 lakh from Dillip two months ago to provide him a plot.

But Nigam failed to provide the promised land despite Dillip’s attempts to get back his money. Last night both the friends met at Nigam’s house for a drinking session that ended in a brawl.

“As both were in an inebriated state, the brawl took a violent turn when Dillip attacked Nigam with a dagger. The victim sustained injuries on his neck and head,” said a police officer.

As Nigam, lying in a pool of blood, screamed for help, the neighbours rushed to his house. By that time the accused had fled the spot. The Lakshmi Sagar police was informed and they took the victim to a private hospital.

The police have registered a case following a complaint lodged by the victim’s brother. “We are searching for the culprit and hope he will be arrested soon,” said the cop.

The incident shows the rise in the number of land-related crimes in the city.

On March 12, the Chandaka police had recovered the mutilated body of a 35-year-old land broker along the Chandaka-Khandagiri road.

While family members of the broker cried murder over land dispute, the police claimed it to be an accidental death.

On March 4, goons had fired at a builder Tarini Pattnaik in Nayapalli area over a land related dispute.