BARBIL: Police on Sunday apprehended four minors for their alleged involvement in the murder of a spice trader in Joda town of Keonjhar district.
Police said body of Rajnandan Choudhary (58), a spice dealer of Joda town, was recovered from under a bridge over Sona river near Kundurunala on Friday. Choudhary had gone for his routine morning walk when he went missing. Subsequently, locals found his body. Police initially registered an unnatural death case, suspecting suicide or accident. However, after receiving credible information about the alleged involvement of some local boys, the case was converted into a murder case.
During investigation, police found that the four boys had allegedly followed Choudhary with the intention of snatching his mobile phone. The accused attacked the trader and found that he was not carrying a mobile phone. Fearing that their identities would be revealed, they reportedly killed him and fled the spot.
The four accused were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.