Cuttack, May 28: Sheikh Bazar is again on the edge after petrol bombs were hurled at the residence of Prakash Behera, 29, alias Chakuli last night.

Behera was recently acquitted in the murder of the Keshab Behera, a former secretary of the local puja committee here. Sources said three unidentified men lobbed three to five petrol bombs at Prakash's house around midnight.

The incident has triggered fear among the family members of Prakash, who suspect the attack to be the fallout of the past rivalry between him and Keshab.

"I was studying when bombs were hurled at our house. I saw them hurling two bombs in front of my eyes," said Srutishree Behera, 9, daughter of Prakash. She said her father was wrongly implicated in the murder and after his acquittal on May 20, the family had been receiving constant threats.

At least three bombs hit the balcony and safety grill around the window of the nearby house belonging to Prakash's uncle Bramhananda Behera.

"Three persons came on a scooter and hurled petrol bombs at the house of Prakash Behera. Three of the bombs hit our house. Our property got damaged," said Amit, the nephew of Bramhananda Behera.

Apart from Prakash, Dinabandhu Behera and Abdul Muktadir alias Munna Laden were also acquitted in the murder of Keshab Behera. Police had arrested eight persons for the murder of the secretary of Sheikh Bazar Puja Committee Keshab Behera, on July 7, 2013.

While five of the eight accused in the case, including Biswanath Behera, Keshab Behera, Debraj Behera, Sheikh Sahid and Subhransu Das were awarded life sentences by the SDJM court, Cuttack on May 20, 2015, three including Prakash were acquitted.

Senior officials said Keshab Behera had been killed following a dispute over the auction of shops at the Chandi Mandir.

All the accused in his murder were said to be the associates of gangster Tito, who was extremely keen on increasing his influence in the area.

Senior police officers said security had been beefed up and a case registered in connection with the bombing incident.

"Our investigation is in the preliminary stages at present and it is too early to say the exact motive behind the bomb attacks," said Sanjeev Arora, the deputy commissioner of police.