Laxmipur/Koraput: In a brazen display of hooliganism and lawlessness, an employee of Gas Authority Of India Limited (GAIL) was brutally stabbed over extortion money bid in Laxmipur tehsil of Odisha's Koraput district. The victim was identified as RP Singh, a site supervisor of the PSU. While no complaint has been registered so far, the incident has triggered widespread anger among locals as the incident took place in broad daylight but there has been no response from the police tillnow despite the videos and pictures going viral on social media.

As per reports, Singh was stabbed over 50 times with a knife and beer bottle by some miscreants following a dispute over extortion money at Laxmipur railway colony road on Sunday. He suffered grievous injuries specially in the neck area and was first rushed to the community health centre for preliminary treatment. As his condition deteriorated, doctors referred him to Saheed Laxman Naik Medical College and Hospital (SLN-MCH) at the district headquarters.

Following the incident, company officials alleged that earlier three similar extortion bids had been attempted within Laxmipur and kairigumma limits but police response has been far from satisfactory.

Sources said four youths are suspected to have been involved in the attack and there's panic among locals as such incidents are on the rise in a quaint place like Laxmipur since last three months. But police have not stepped up vigilance nor awareness, they said.