Balangir: Four persons, including the mastermind, have been arrested in connection with the murder of a country liquor shop bouncer at a village in Odisha’s Balangir district.
Police said the sensational murder, which took place at Sinkhaman village under the jurisdiction of Balangir Sadar police station last week, was suspected to have been triggered by an extramarital affair.
The motive behind the crime was the alleged illicit relationship between liquor shop manager Vishal Ranjan and the wife of the prime accused and mastermind Balaram Barik.
Angry over the illicit affair, Balaram, along with his associates — Arta Chinda, Sunil Bag, and Sanjeev Barik — hatched a conspiracy to eliminate Vishal.
The accused persons called Vishal for talks. However, Vishal sent bouncer Sarada Yadav to speak on his behalf instead of going to them. When Sarada arrived at the site, the four attacked him with sticks, leaving him critically injured. Sarada later succumbed to injiries.
As Vishal had repeatedly avoided meeting Balaram, the group members were furious and the bouncer fell prey to their anger.
All four accused have been taken into custody and produced before a local court.
Police have seized the weapons used in the crime, a motorcycle, and two mobile phones from the accused.