Kharavela Nagar police station

Bhubaneswar, May 17: At least seven persons were injured last night when two groups of youths clashed at Madhusudan Nagar area, which falls in Kharavela Nagar police limits.

Though police said the clash was the fallout of a minor accident, sources said the youths were arguing over a political issue and the situation turned violent. However, both sides today settled the matter outside the police station and refused to comment on the issue.

Police sources said they received information on two groups of youths clashing near a private medical coaching centre at Madhusudan Nagar around 10pm.

“We went to the spot and rushed the injured persons to Capital Hospital. Though seven persons were injured, none of the injuries was serious. We had detained five persons from both sides,” said a police officer.

Officials said one of the injured persons, Debiprasad Mohanty, was riding his motorcycle when another two-wheeler hit him from behind on Sachivalaya Marg. The person who bumped into Mohanty’s motorcycle, Bikash Barik, abused Mohanty, who retaliated with a slap.

Later, Barik’s friends attacked Mohanty, who was in his house situated near the coaching centre at Madhusudan Nagar. Mohanty’s brother Debashis and a relative, Renubala Mohanty, also suffered injuries. Barik and three of his friends were also injured in the clash.

However, an eyewitness said the two groups of youths were sitting near the coaching centre, their usual hangout place, chatting. Last night, they were discussing about the Congress party’s demand for CBI inquiry into the death of Ayush doctor Madhabilata Pradhan, whose body was found by Government Railway Police from Puri railway station in October last year.

“When one of the youths said a BJD legislator would face problems if the matter was investigated by the CBI, the discussion turned into an argument which led to the clash,” said an eyewitness, who preferred to remain anonymous.

Kharavela Nagar police said they had no information regarding such a political discussion. “The clash was the fallout of a minor road accident. It was the clash between two groups of youths. They compromised in the presence of their parents and gave a written undertaking,” said inspector in charge of Kharavela Nagar police station Manoj Samant.