BHUBANESWAR: Police on Monday arrested two contract killers for the October 4 daylight murder of a sweetmaker in Samantarapur area in the City. One of them was arrested last month for violating Covid-19 guidelines by taking part in a procession organised to welcome a murder accused.
The two were paid Rs 10,000 and rest Rs 40,000 was to be transferred via digital wallet after the job was done. Earlier, police had arrested five, including three from the family. Head of the family Balaram Behera (74) was owner of a rival sweet stall and the conspiracy was hatched by the family.
Police Commissioner Sudhansu Sarangi said Shritik Biswal, who had hacked the sweetmaker Prabhakar Sahoo on the road, was arrested last month for Covid guidelines violation by participating in a procession to welcome a murder accused who was released on bail.
He had escaped the spot with one of his associates Ashutosh Mohanty. Police have also seized the weapon of offence. “Prime accused Shritik and Ashutosh were hiding at Tumudibandha in Kandhamal and a team of Special Squad led by ACP Sanjeeb Sathpathy nabbed them,” Sarangi said. ACP Zone II Bishnu Chandra Patra and two inspectors were also part of the team. Efforts are on to complete the investigation and file chargesheet in the case, he added.
Shritik and Ashutosh went to Puri after committing the crime and then they left for Tumudibandha on October 5 on another two-wheeler. Police also apprehended one of their associates Abhijit Sahoo for providing them shelter.
Prabahkar was earlier working at the sweets stall of Balaram but later started his own business in Samantarapur. Balaram’s business took a hit after Prabahakar opened his business. Balaram, his son Dilip and grandson Rajkumar had reportedly vandalised Prabhakar’s shop a few months back.
Subsequently, Prabhakar and his wife Minati approached Lingaraj police. On police intervention, Balaram paid Rs 10,000 compensation towards the damage. Later, he along with his other family members hatched a conspiracy to eliminate him.
Rajkumar gave an advance of Rs 10,000 to Shritik and Ashutosh and told them that he will give them the remaining amount via an e-commerce payment system after Prabhakar was eliminated. He had also assured the two prime accused to undertake their expenses to hire lawyers for them.