Puri, Aug 28: Panic spread across the Saradhabali area of Puri on Wednesday after a group of armed miscreants allegedly vandalised a sweet stall and looted cash in broad daylight.
According to reports, three youths barged into the sweet stall of Soumya Ranjan Patra near the Saradhabali bus stand in the afternoon. Brandishing swords, they allegedly threatened staff members while enquiring about Patra’s younger brother.
The attackers then ransacked the shop, damaging a large quantity of Khaja, a popular sweet offered at the Jagannath Temple, before escaping with around ₹5,000 in cash.
“Three youths identified as Saswat Mohanty, Sambit Mohanty, and Bishnu terrorised our employees and vandalised the stall. They destroyed sweets worth thousands and looted money from the counter,” Patra told reporters.
Upon being alerted, a team from Kumbharpada police station rushed to the spot and launched an investigation. CCTV footage from the locality is being examined, though no arrests have been made so far.
Patra further alleged that the attack may have been connected to an altercation earlier in the day involving his younger brother at a nearby temple.
