Three persons were detained in connection with Friday's attack on an official of the Tata Power company project in Cuttack who was set on fire near Naraj, on the outskirts of the city.
The three, all natives of nearby Badamundali village, were being interrogated by the police.
While senior police officers remained tightlipped about the identity of the detained persons, reports suggested they were known to be supporters of the 1000 MW power project and had contacts with the assistant manager Amit Das who had suffered over 30 per cent burns in the attack.
Amit and some of his staff were travelling in a car to the project site on Friday when some people intercepted the vehicle and set him ablaze after pouring petrol on him.
The young manager, relative of a senior district official in Cuttack, is now undergoing treatment at a private hospital but is still not out of danger.