Bhubaneswar (UDN): The death toll in the brutal attack at Kolathia under Khandagiri police limits in Bhubaneswar rose to two after the injured father of the slain youth succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.

The deceased, Himanshu Padhi (54), had sustained grievous injuries while attempting to save his son, Krushna Chandra Padhi alias Buddhi (20), who was allegedly attacked by two unidentified assailants at the family’s residence in the early hours of Monday. Krushna, an undergraduate student from Sorada in Ganjam district, died shortly after the assault.

According to police, the attackers, reportedly wearing masks, entered the house and allegedly assaulted Krushna with an iron rod before fleeing the scene. Himanshu and his daughter, Tapasi Padhi, intervened to rescue him and were also attacked. While Tapasi is undergoing treatment, Himanshu remained in critical condition until he breathed his last at AIIMS.

Police said the Padhi family had been residing on a relative’s land near National Highway-16 in Kolathia for nearly two decades. The family had also lost Krushna’s mother last year, leaving the surviving members devastated by the latest tragedy.

Investigators are probing all possible angles behind the double death. Preliminary investigation suggests the incident may have been linked to a personal dispute, with police examining the possibility of a love triangle as one of the motives. However, officials said no conclusion has been reached and all angles remain under investigation.

Teams from the Commissionerate Police are analysing CCTV footage, examining forensic evidence collected from the crime scene and questioning witnesses to identify the assailants. A manhunt has been launched to trace those involved in the attack.

The incident has sent shockwaves across the city, prompting renewed concerns over violent crime in the capital. Police have assured that every effort is being made to arrest the accused and bring them to justice.