Supporters of minister Maheshwar Mohanty light earthen lamps in front of Jagannath temple in Puri for his speedy recovery. Picture by Sarat Patra

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 23: The family members of the law, tourism and culture minister Maheshwar Mohanty today lodged a complaint with police in connection with the attack on him.

However, the complaint remains silent on the people who were behind the attack. Based on the complaint, Puri police today registered a case.

Mohanty’s elder son Sunil Mohanty said: “We are happy with the pace of the investigation. The police are looking into all possible angles .”

The police are interrogating 10 persons, who have been detained, to find out the exact motive behind the attack. Three special teams have been formed to crack the case. The police have so far seized six revolvers, six motorcycles and a number of live bullets.

Unidentified goons had shot three rounds at the minister near his residence in Puri on Friday night outside his residence.

Sources said during the tracking down of mobile calls, the police got some vital clues leading to the attack on Mohanty.

“The role of party leaders also could not be ruled out. This could be fallout of a property dispute. The other angles are being also inquired into,” said a police officer.

The condition of the minister is stated to be stable. Managing director of the local hospital, where the minister has been admitted, R.K. Padhi said: “Mohanty’s condition is improving. His major organs were injured. A team of doctors is monitoring his health every hour.”

Cutting across party lines, people have expressed concern over the deterioration in law and order in Puri.

Puri Distributors’ and Traders’ Association has called a dawn-to-dusk shutdown of business establishments here on February 25 to protest against deteriorating law and order and attack on the minister. Association president Bijay Subudhi said: “We will also submit a memorandum to the Puri collector.”

While Puri MP Pinaki Mishra has demanded a commissionerate-like, Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan criticised the worsening law and order situation in the district.