Rourkela: Two boys, aged 17 and 16, were detained by Plantsite police on Thursday night on charges of attempting to murder a food vendor near Rourkela railway station a day earlier. Victim Chhote Lal Bhaderia (21), who hails from Madhya Pradesh, was assaulted with a pointed iron rod by a group of youths, and is undergoing treatment at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar.The rod pierced his abdomen and remained lodged below chest. With the help of local residents, police first took Bhaderia to Rourkela Govt Hospital and later to a private hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to AIIMS. Doctors removed the rod during surgery on Thursday night.Police registered a case and launched an investigation, detaining several youths for questioning. During interrogation, the two minors allegedly confessed to the crime, stating it was in retaliation for a previous altercation between the victim and brother of one of the accused.The probe is on to ascertain the involvement of others in the case.