Bhadrak, Feb 13: Tension gripped College Square area under Town Police Station limits in Bhadrak district after a youth was allegedly abducted in a filmy-style operation and assaulted late on Thursday night.

The injured youth, identified as Deepak Dakua, was allegedly targeted following a dispute over passing comments at a college student.

According to our source from the ground, the incident began in the afternoon when Deepak confronted a group of youths after two sisters of his friend allegedly complained about being cat-called near a college. An argument reportedly broke out, but the matter appeared to have subsided at that time.

However, at around 8 pm, while Deepak was sitting near his parlour close to College Square, a group of youths allegedly attacked him. Eyewitnesses said he was forcibly dragged into a car and taken towards the Natha Sahi area under Puruna Bazar police station limits.

There, nearly 15 to 20 youths allegedly assaulted him with iron rods and knives before fleeing the spot.

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Locals later rescued Deepak and informed his family. He was subsequently admitted to the Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital for treatment.

Victim Narrates Ordeal
Deepak said, “Two sisters of my friend complained that a man was catcalling them near the college. When I went there to confront him and his friends, they denied the allegations and tried to get aggressive. Though after push and shove, they went back. Later in the evening, while I was standing near my parlour, the goons came in huge numbers and forcibly abducted me in a car. In the car, they beat me with iron rods and knives mercilessly. They took me to a petrol pump near Natha Sahi and again manhandled me. Then, an elderly person from the nearby area intervened and rescued me and dropped me near my shop on a scooter.”

Deepak’s mother said, “I was at home when some of Deepak’s friends told me that he had been abducted. I immediately rushed to the police station and the cops told me to file an FIR. My son owns a parlour and his parlour was closed yesterday. So he was roaming near the shop.”

Bhadrak Town Police detained one person in connection with the case at the time of filing this report and begun investigation based on CCTV footage from the area, our source from the ground informed.

The incident has created panic among residents in the locality. Further investigation is underway