BARIPADA:Baripada Town police on Thursday recovered the decomposed body of missing retired professor Sudhir Mohanta (76) from a four-foot deep pit inside a graveyard near Ambajoda forest. Police also arrested two persons allegedly involved in the murder.
The accused have been identified as Sek Raju (32) of Raghunathpur and Ajay Kumar Patra (21) of Baghra Road under Baripada Town police limits. Mohanta, who was residing at Jamunadeipur here, went missing on September 25. The next day, his wife, Snehaprava, who works as teacher in Khajurasahi Government High School, filed a missing report at Baripada Town police station.
During investigation, police found that Mohanta used to share his personal and family problems with Raju, a garage mechanic. Mohanta even shared his property and financial details with Raju, who then hatched a plot to grab it, said IIC Amit Kumar Biswal.
On September 25, Mohanta went to Muncibandh here on Raju’s motorcycle to discuss a personal matter with Ajay, a hotel owner. But he did not return. They allegedly tried to extort money from Mohanta. As he refused, they strangulated him to death. Later, the accused took his body in a car and buried it in a four-foot deep pit in Ambajoda forest, police said.
On Thursday, police arrested the duo from Balijoda area, about 10 km from the town, and seized the car from their possession. A case has been registered and they will be forwarded to court on Friday, police added.