Kendrapara/ Paradip, May 11: Police have arrested two of the three motorcycle-borne goons who shot at a 27-year-old man from close range at Marshaghai market situated at the Banamali traffic junction, about 20km from here.

The shooting took place around 11pm on Saturday and the goons had fired four bullets at Bhaskar Jena, who was shot in his thigh and chest. Jena was taken to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, in a critical condition.

Police said the incident was the fallout of gang rivalry. Efforts are on to nab the third accused. Inspector of Marshaghai police station Sushant Kumar Patra said: “We are yet to ascertain the exact motive of the crime. But it has been established beyond dispute that gang dispute led to the murder attempt. The victim also has a history of crimes.”

He said police patrol on and around the national highways have been intensified in the wake of a spurt in crime.

A boom in industrial activities and surge in mega construction projects in Paradip area are providing ample opportunities for crime mongers to run extortion rackets in places such as Paradip, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara.

“The district police have constituted special squads headed by officers of inspector rank to launch crackdowns on criminals. Though the crime rate has come down considerably in recent months, pre-emptive measures are under way to curb lawlessness,” said Kendrapara superintendent of police Rabi Narayan Behera.

Man kills brother

A long-standing property feud led to a 48-year-old man allegedly hacking his younger brother to death and critically injuring his father at a village of Jagatsinghpur district.

The assailant Narendra Biswal, 48, murdered his sibling Surendra Biswal, 45, in Podaruan village within Balikuda police station jurisdiction, about 50km from here, police said.

Narendra attacked his brother with a sharp-edged weapon yesterday evening. The victim, who suffered multiple injuries died on the way to hospital.

There were some heated exchanges between the siblings. Later, in a sudden fit of rage, Narendra stabbed his younger brother.

Their father, Batakrushna Biswal, who tried to intervene, was injured in the process. In the tussle that had ensued, the accused was also injured, said Jagatsinghpur superintendent of police Satyabrata Bhoi.

“The assailant was arrested and the sharp knife used for the crime has been seized. The accused has confessed to the crime. The assailant was also allegedly mentally disturbed over the land dispute,” said Bhoi.