JHARSUGUDA: Police on Sunday arrested a 40-year-old man for allegedly opening fire at a four-month pregnant woman inside her house at Talipada in Sarbahal area here.
The accused, Lokesh Kumar Padhan (40) of Kilasama village under Sasan police limits in Sambalpur district, was arrested within 24 hours of the crime. Police said Pradhan carried out the attack on Friday night over past enmity. He suspected that the woman’s child was responsible for the death of his son last year.
At around 9.30 pm on Friday, the accused barged into the victim’s residence and opened fire at her while she was resting. On hearing the gunshot, her husband rushed to her aid, but Pradhan reportedly assaulted him and locked the door from outside before fleeing the spot. The woman suffered bullet injury and was first taken to Jharsuguda district headquarters hospital. She was later shifted to VIMSAR, Burla.
On being informed, Jharsuguda police reached the crime scene and launched an investigation. Multiple police teams conducted searches both within and outside the district, leading to the arrest of the accused within a day.
Jharsuguda SP GR Raghavendra said preliminary investigation revealed that the accused procured the firearm from Bihar around two months ago. He conducted multiple recces of the victim’s house before committing the crime.
“The accused has apparently become psychologically disturbed after his son died last year. It was an act of vengeance. The victim is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar and her condition is stable,” the SP added.
Police said until last year, families of the victim and the accused resided in Badmal area and were neighbours. On August 10, 2025, Pradhan’s 11-year-old son died after accidentally falling into a water body while playing with the woman’s son of the same age. Since then, the accused held a grudge against the woman’s family. After the incident, the accused went back to his village while the victim’s family shifted to Sarbahal.
Police seized a country-made gun with a magazine, nine rounds of live ammunition, a motorcycle and mobile phone from the accused and an empty cartridge from the crime scene. Pradhan was produced in court and further investigation is underway.