Baripada: A drunk man allegedly killed two persons with a shovel at Kulughutu village under Tiring police limits in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on Wednesday morning.

The deceased have been identified as Gopinath Sardar and Budheshwar Rana of Kulughutu village. Police have arrested the accused, identified as Mochaka Alda.

According to reports, the incident took place between 8.30 am and 9 am. The accused was standing in front of his house in an intoxicated condition when the two victims passed by. Without any provocation, he allegedly attacked them with an iron shovel and beat them to death on the spot.

Hearing about the incident, villagers rushed to the spot, overpowered the accused, tied him up and allegedly assaulted him severely. Sources said the villagers fractured his leg during the assault.

On receiving information, the police reached the village, rescued the accused from the clutches of the villagers and took him into custody. He was later shifted to a hospital for treatment.

Police have started an investigation into the incident. Preliminary findings suggest that there was no prior enmity between the accused and the victims and that the killings were carried out while the accused was under the influence of alcohol.