Three persons were hacked to death by unidentified assailants near a police check post in Odisha's Puri district on Sunday, police said.

The incident took place near Pattnaikiya Chhak between Bhubaneswar and Puri under the jurisdiction of Satyabadi police station in the afternoon.

While the exact reason behind the killing is yet to be ascertained, it is suspected that the murder could be the fallout of old enmity, police said.

According to reports, the deceased have been identified as Panchu Behera, Krushna Behera and Purna Behera. “The accused escaped soon after the attack. We have started a search to arrest them,” said Puri superintendent of Uma Shankar Dash.

Demanding immediate arrest of the culprits, local people staged a road blockade.