Bhubaneswar, Feb. 24 -- Police in Odisha's Bolangir district apprehended at least seven persons after a suspected attempt to carry out a contract killing during a wedding procession was thwarted by vigilant villagers on Sunday.

The incident occurred in Bawajuri village under Deogaon police jurisdiction in the district.

As per initial reports, the groom Rajkumar Pradhan from Gaibahal village had gone to Bawajuri village in a 'baraat' procession as part of his marriage with a girl from the village when a group of around ten individuals, suspected to be intoxicated, allegedly launched an armed assault on the groom. However, alert villagers overpowered seven of the assailants and handed them over to police.

Those arrested are reportedly fr...