2 Arrested In Prasanta Jena Murder Case In Odisha’s Gajapati

Paralakhemundi: Police on Thursday arrested two persons in connection with the murder of one Prasanta Jena near Vinala village in Gurandi tehsil of Odisha’s Gajapati district.

The arrested have been identified as Santosh Swain and Simanchal Pradhan. Two motorcycles, a blood-stained stick and iron rods have also been seized from them.

According to police sources, on May 18 evening when Simanchal Pardhan was sitting near a pond, he heard Kalia Jena and Suresh Barik, who were going on a bike speaking on the phone that Prasanta Jena was somewhere nearby. Simanchal then called his brother, brother-in-law and other family members and chased the bike, but soon lost track of it. After some time, they spotted Suresh. They then went in that direction and found Kalia and Prasanta sitting near a beach. They first hit Kalia, who started screaming in pain, and then Prasanta with iron rods and sticks and fled leaving him in a critical state.

On hearing about the attack, Prasanta’s family members rushed to the spot and took him to the District Headquarters Hospital in Paralakhemundi in a 108 ambulance. He was referred to Srikakulum by the doctors there. Prasanta succumbed on the way to Srikakulum.

“Five persons were involved in the incident. Santosh and Simanchal have been arrested and they have confessed to the crime. The other three will be nabbed soon,” Parakhemundi SDPO Madhabananda Nayak said.

The deceased was from Saradhapur village under Gurundi police limits of Gajapati district.