The police on Friday arrested a couple on charges of burning three of their relatives to death at Talaga village under Marsaghai police limits in the district.
They have been identified as Bijaya Patnaik and his wife, Reena Panda.
Reports said Akshya Patnaik (56), his son Kalindi (26) and daughter Madhusmita (20) were allegedly burnt to death on Wednesday night by the duo, who locked the door of the thatched house before setting it on fire. Bijaya is the elder brother of Akshya.
Akshya’s elder daughter had lodged a complaint at Marsaghai police station on Thursday following which the couple were arrested, said a police officer, Kartik Chandra Mallick.
The police said the couple had confessed to the crime, adding that property dispute was the reason behind the triple murder. They were later produced in the court of Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) in Kendrapara and remanded in judicial custody.