6 Persons Including 2 From Jharkhand Arrested For Constable’s Murder In Odisha’s Balangir

Balangir: Police have arrested six persons for alleged murder of a constable over a deal on precious stones in a hotel in Odisha’s Balangir town.

Speaking to media persons on Friday, Balangir SP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo said the constable, Shankar Behera, was posted at Sonepur Town police station. He was found dead with his hands and legs tied in a room of a hotel near Balangir railway station on May 17.

Following this, three police teams under the supervision of Balangir SP were formed to investigate into the case. During the investigation, police came to know that one person had booked a room in the hotel room with fake identity and also hired vehicles in fake names on different dates.

On further investigation by checking the CCTV footage and enquiries at the railway station, the investigating team could identify the person as one Pankaj Kumar of Jharkhand. He and seven others were staying in the hotel room by furnishing his fake documents.

It was also revealed that Shankar was selling precious stones illegally. On the day he was murdered, the constable had come to sell some stones to Pankaj in the hotel. But Pankaj and his associates tied Shankar’s hands and legs and killed him. Then, they fled with the precious stones from him.

Besides, Pankaj, the police arrested Suraj Kumar Barnawal from Jharkhand, Krushna Meher of Angul district, Manoranjan Sathua of Boudh, Nitai Kar of Sonepur and Rohit Sa of Balangir. Two other accused persons are still absconding, the SP said.

The police also seized two four-wheelers, three motorcycles, precious stones worth over Rs 50 lakh, a country made pistol and mobile phones from the possession of the arrested persons who were forwarded to court on Friday.