Bhubaneswar: A group of armed criminals unleashed terror by attacking people with swords and vandalising vehicles outside a café in Patrapada under Tamando police limits late on Monday night.Two men were injured and three cars were damaged in the late-night act of violence, which sparked public outrage and raised fresh concerns about law and order in the city.Around 11.50 pm, six men arrived on three motorcycles and launched a sudden assault on four men chatting outside the café. CCTV footage captured the gang members brandishing swords and attacking indiscriminately. As the victims fled for safety, the attackers vandalised three cars parked nearby before speeding away on the bikes.The café’s owner, Kabiraj Lenka, lodged a complaint with Tamando police station on Tuesday, naming a local resident as the prime suspect. “He and five or six others created havoc at my eatery. My son and his friends were inside when the attack began. They locked the café door to prevent entry but the goons turned on innocent bystanders and vandalised vehicles,” Lenka said. His complaint did not highlight the possible motive of the attack.One of the injured, Gopinath Bhujabal, recounted the ordeal: “Before we could react, they charged at us with swords. My right hand was badly injured when I tried to resist.”The incident triggered panic and anger among locals, who criticised the police for failing to curb rising hooliganism. “Criminals seem to have no fear of the law. Such brazen acts in public places erode trust and spread fear in society. Police must act tough,” said Sanjeet Mohanty, a businessman from Patrapada.Police officers assured swift action, suspecting the attack may have stemmed from old enmity.“We are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the culprits. Circumstances leading to the incident are being examined. Stringent measures will be taken against those responsible,” an officer from Tamando police station stated.
