JEYPORE: The Jeypore Sadar police are on the look out for the local ganja traders for their alleged involvement in the lynching of four ganja smugglers.
Last week, five ganja smugglers - four from Malkangiri and one from Boipariguda - had been arrested for their alleged role in the killings. The four smugglers - Arjuna Kumar Yala, Anand Shyam, Prakash Jaispal, Ranucharana Kar, all belonging to Rajendragaon under Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh - had come to Nuaput village during wee hours of Thursday in a jeep to collect ganja stock from traders of Malkangiri and Koraput.
Sources said the team of eight senior police officials that is investigating the case is examining the call records of all ganja traders in Balia area. Apparently, police have received information that the four smugglers had stayed in Jeypore with some local ganja traders for a day prior to the incident. The cops suspect that these traders might have instigated the killings. Both Jeypore Sadar and Koraput police in coordination with their Malkangiri counterparts are raiding different parts of Koraput district to nab the elusive traders.
Police are also suspecting role of local goons in the incident. When the four smugglers had reached Nuaput village, some local history-sheeters came to know that they were carrying large amount of cash for buying ganja and they along with villagers intercepted the smugglers at Jeypore-Boiapariguda road, near Balia village under Jeypore Sadar police limits.
An altercation had ensued between both the groups and subsequently, the four were lynched. While the bodies were left behind near the Balia bridge, the cash that was being carried by the ganja smugglers and their other personal belongings are missing.