A shocking act of violence triggered by a bitter land dispute and an Information Right query has come to light in the Sundargarh district of Odisha. On Saturday morning, two unidentified men riding a motorcycle intercepted a local resident named Kanhu Charan Mahanta in Ganighasa village, located within the jurisdiction of the Lahunipara police station, poured petrol over him, and set him on fire. The horror of the incident sent shockwaves through the region, creating intense tension across the village. The victim sustained severe burn injuries and was initially rushed to a local medical center before being transferred to the Ispat General Hospital in Rourkela, where he continues to battle for his life in critical condition.
Ambushed Near a Local Stream on Saturday Morning
According to available details, Kanhu Charan Mahanta left his house on Saturday morning and was walking toward a nearby stream. Two assailants riding a motorcycle had allegedly been waiting along the route to ambush him. As Kanhu Charan approached, the bike riders blocked his path, doused his body with petrol, and ignited the fire before fleeing the scene. The sudden attack left him engulfed in flames, and he began screaming desperately for assistance.
Hearing his anguished cries, several villagers working nearby rushed to the spot. The alert villagers managed to extinguish the flames and rescued Kanhu Charan from the brink of death. Recognizing the severity of his injuries, they immediately transported him to the nearby Lahunipara Hospital for emergency medical attention. However, due to the extensive nature of his burns and his rapidly deteriorating physical condition, attending doctors referred him to the specialized Ispat General Hospital in Rourkela for advanced treatment. Medical staff at the facility report that his condition remains extremely grave.
Dispute Over Unauthorized Petrol Pump Lease and RTI Query
The victim's family believes that a contentious property conflict directly provoked the violent assault. Kanhu Charan's wife, Padma Mahanta, has openly accused certain relatives of plotting the attack over disputed ancestral land. According to Padma, some of their relatives had allegedly leased out their shared land for the establishment of a petrol pump without obtaining the necessary authorization or consent from Kanhu Charan's family.
To uncover the exact legal paperwork and terms behind the unauthorized transaction, Kanhu Charan had recently filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Padma explained that the filing of the RTI query caused tensions to escalate dramatically between the two parties. The victim's family firmly suspects that the imminent threat of exposure regarding the land lease motivated the perpetrators to launch the life-threatening attack. Police have noted these allegations and incorporated the family's statements into their formal inquiry.
Police Recover Evidence and Launch Manhunt
Upon receiving notification of the crime, a team from the Lahunipara police station swiftly arrived at Ganighasa village to secure the scene and initiate a comprehensive investigation. During their preliminary search of the crime scene, officers recovered several crucial items, including a matchbox, a bottle containing residual petrol, and a pair of footwear left behind by the attackers. These items have been seized and cataloged as physical evidence for forensic analysis.
Investigating officers are currently attempting to reconstruct the exact sequence of events leading up to the assault. Special police teams have been assigned to trace and identify the two motorcycle riders involved in the heinous crime. Law enforcement authorities confirmed that they are examining the case from multiple angles, prioritizing the land conflict and the RTI submission while also exploring other potential motives. Police officials stated that the motive and identity of the assailants will be formally confirmed once the ongoing inquiry yields concrete evidence.
