Bhubaneswar: A day after AIIMS Bhubaneswar employee Sudhanshu Khuntia was shot dead, police arrested four persons for their alleged involvement in the killing.
Assistant Commissioner of Police for Zome III (ACP) Tapas Chandra Pradhan told reporters that a 7.65 mm pistol and four mobile phones have been seized from the accused persons by the Khandagiri police.
The arrested persons have been identified as Bhalu alias Sukanta Pradhan, Chhabi alias Suvendu Pradhan, Rakesh Khuntia alias Raka and Kanha alias Subrat Sahoo.
Following the daylight murder on Monday, a case was registered at Khandagiri Police Station U/s 103(1)/3(5) BNS/See 25/27 Arms Acm Sec. 103(1)/61(2)(a) BNS/Sec 25(1)(a)/27 Arms Act based on the written complaint of Debasish Khuntia, younger brother of Sudhanshu.
Notably, Sudhanshu (27) was ambushed and shot at from close range around 9 am on Monday while proceeding from his home in Sarakantara, Hata Sahi, to AIIMS Bhubaneswar. The victim succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital, where his younger brother, Debasish Khuntia, rushed him for treatment.
Sudhanshu reportedly whispered to Debasish on the way to AIIMS that his attacker was Siba Pradhan, also known as Sadasiba Pradhan—one of the sons of his paternal uncle, Sukanta Pradhan. This disclosure has propelled police into high gear, leading to the swift arrest of four suspects, including the alleged shooter.
The murder stems from a bitter, decade-old feud over property lines between the Khuntia family and the Pradhan clan, both hailing from the same village. Debasish lodged a formal complaint at Khandagiri police station, detailing how the dispute escalated into threats of violence after Sudhanshu provided key testimony in a related civil suit (Case No. 1244/2019) pending before the Bhubaneswar Civil Court.
“After my brother deposed in court, Sukanta Pradhan and his sons—Chhabi (Suvendu) and Siba—openly threatened to wipe out our family,” Debasish stated in his FIR.
Acting on the complaint, initially registered under Sections 103(1)/3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 25/27 of the Arms Act, police updated the charges to Sections 103(1)/61(2)(a) BNS and 25(1)(a)/27 Arms Act.
