Balasore: Four boys were detained on Saturday for allegedly attacking a 20-year-old catering staffer with a sharp weapon over a dispute involving serving of mutton at a village wedding in Balasore district on June 24.Victim Rajesh Panda sustained grievous injuries to his neck in the attack. He was initially admitted to Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital in Balasore before being shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, where the youth is battling for life.Investigating officer Golak Nayak said the accused, aged between 14 and 16 years, and residents of Balasore district, were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board and subsequently sent to the juvenile observation home in Angul.According to police, Panda was serving food at the wedding feast when a group of four minors demanded mutton. However, following instructions from the organisers, he allegedly refused to serve them mutton and instead offered chicken. The refusal reportedly led to a heated argument between the catering staffer and minors.A short while later, when Panda stepped outside the wedding venue, the four minors allegedly intercepted him and attacked him on the neck with a sharp weapon before fleeing the scene.Following the incident, the local police launched an investigation and detained all four accused on Saturday. Based on a complaint lodged by the victim’s elder brother, Sitaram Panda, police registered a case under sections 126(2), 115(2), 118(1), 296, 351(3), 109 (attempt to murder) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
