KENDRAPARA:: Eight criminals, including two contractors, were arrested from Kusunapur village under Marsaghai police limits on Monday on charges of firing on three persons last week.
The incident had occurred at Badapala square on NH-5(A) under the same police limits. Police also seized three pistols, six magazines, 18 rounds of live bullets, five mobile phones and a car from them.
The eight have been identified as Ashok Kumar Panda, Manas Ranjan Sahoo, Abhindra Palei, Satyajit Mahali, Aswajit Sahoo, Subash Kumar Sahoo, Kshayanidhi Dhal and Tapas Das. The last two are contractors of Pattamundei.
Police said six of those arrested had come down to Badapala square on Thursday last to kill contractors, Pravat Nayak (33) of Badapala and Naresh Sethi (38) of Dumuka village. The two were critically injured as the accused fired 18 rounds on them.
The incident took place when the victims were having tea at a kiosk.