Bhubaneswar: Three masked assailants stormed into a house in Kolathia area here in the early hours of Monday and bludgeoned a college student to death in front of his family, leaving them clueless about the motive.Local Khandagiri police identified the deceased as Krushna Chandra Padhi (20), a Plus-III student. His father Himansu Padhi (54), a temple priest, and sister Tapasi (24) sustained grievous injuries while trying to protect him. Both were admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where they remained in critical conditions.According to police sources, the family was asleep when they heard knocks at their door around 2am. Krushna opened it, only to be attacked with iron rods.Tapasi told police in the hospital that they did not know the attackers. “They came like shadows and attacked us without saying a word. We are clueless about their motive,” she told police.DCP Jagmohan Meena said investigating officers were probing all possible angles. “We are examining the youth’s call records, peer group and financial background. Whether the motive was personal enmity, property dispute or something else will be established soon,” the DCP said.The Khandagiri police were scanning CCTV footage from nearby areas and have formed special teams to track down the attackers.Police sources said the family, originally from Sorada in Ganjam district, has been living in Kolathia for nearly two decades in a small house belonging to one of their relatives.Neighbours expressed shock at the brutality. “Krushna was a polite boy, focused on his studies. His father is a respected priest. We cannot imagine why anyone would target them,” said Prasanna Sahoo, a local resident.Another neighbour Madhusmita Nayak said the attack left them terrified. “Such brazen violence in the dead of night raises serious questions about safety. Police must crack the case at the earliest,” she said.
