Balangir police on Monday arrested seven more persons including five women in connection with the Thapa Pali murder case.
The arrested are Sahebeni Majhi, Neera Majhi, Bhagawati Majhi, Amara Majhi, Indu Majhi, Reena Thapa (minor) and Sadashiba Majhi. Police also seized four axes from a straw godown which was allegedly hidden by Neera Majhi.
Meanwhile, Biswanath Majhi, Sankheswar Majhi and Kandha Majhi who were undergoing treatment in Balangir hospital have been referred to VSS Medical College and Hospital in Burla while the other accused have fled.
Karuna Thapa, the only surviving male member of the family, has filed a case against 28 persons alleging that they had killed his elder brothers and father.
Five members of Tapa family were murdered in Thapapali village under Balangir Sadar police limits on Sunday morning over past enmity with Majhi family of the village over a piece of grazing land.
One year back, one Ekadesia Majhi of the Majhi family was murdered by a member of Thapa family and that was also a reason for the clash that led to killing of five persons.
Tulsi Thapa (14), the daughter of deceased Jagdish Thapa said, “While I was drawing water from the nearby well, Majhi family members attacked my grandfather, my uncle and my father.”
“By the time I reached the place, my uncle and grandfather had died. My father struggled for some time, had some water and then passed away,” she added.
Karuna Thapa, who survived the attack as he had not gone to the field due to illness, said the murder was planned by Majhi family on Saturday night.
Sources said Balangir Sadar police reached the spot two hours after the incident and therefore, all the culprits managed to flee.