Berhampur: In a gruesome double murder in Odisha, two brothers were allegedly killed and their bodies set ablaze in Beguniapada area of Ganjam district.
Sources said the incident took place at Shalaban village under Beguniapada police limits of the district on Saturday night. The bodies of the two brothers were later dumped and set on fire in a forest area in a bid to destroy evidence.
The victims have been identified as Sanjay Barik alias Banka and his brother Ajay Barik of Sumandal village under Beguniapada police station. Both were reportedly involved in several criminal cases in the past.
Police said the crime was suspected to have been triggered by long-standing rivalry. The attackers reportedly attacked the two brothers in Shalaban village and then transported the bodies to a deserted area near the village. They attempted to destroy evidence by setting the bodies on fire.
Locals alerted the police after spotting the burnt remains. Senior police officials together with forensic teams visited the site. The area has been cordoned off and intensive investigation is underway to identify and apprehend the assailants.
Multiple angles, including past disputes and personal enmity, are being thoroughly probed by the police.
The incident has left residents of both Shalaban and Sumandal villages in fear and shock. Additional police forces have been deployed in the region to prevent any further unrest.
