Police Conduct Flag March As Locals Vandalise Houses Of Murder Accused In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Three days after the murder of Sanatan Sahu (22), a mobile shop owner, the Commissionerate Police conducted a flag march at Raghunath Nagar in Dumduma area under Khandagiri police limits on Tuesday evening after angry locals ransacked residential houses of two accused – Raja Jaisingh and Mithun Sahu.

The Tuesday morning’s incident occurred after a few women of the locality offered resistance to the alleged sale of country liquor near a school ground by some relatives of Raja and Mithun. They allegedly severely thrashed the vendors and later snatched away the liquor bottles.

As soon as the news spread in the area, around noon, hundreds of irate locals went berserk and vandalised the shops and houses of the two families of the accused and destroyed several household articles, besides smashing their motorcycles.

On receipt of information, Khandagiri police station in-charge Padmanav Pradhan arrived at Raghunath Nagar and tried to assuage the irate locals. The locals also warned of more violence unless police shutters down the country liquor trade in the area.

Although the police assured the locals of immediate action, the latter did not relent and demanded immediate arrest of the accused.

After failing to control the situation, police conducted a flag march in the evening to disperse the locals.

Sources in the locality said the families of Raja and Mithun indulged in illegal country liquor trade in Raghunath Nagar area. As local traders protested against the illicit trade, members of the Raja gang used violence against them and some of them even ransacked their shops, they alleged.

Notably, Police on August 30 had arrested Baya Pradhan (40), his wife Bala (38), son Raja Pradhan (19) and his relatives Simanchal Pradhan alias Jati (29), Subhadra Sahu (50) and son Mithun in connection with the murder of youth, Sanatan Routray, of the locality. They are relatives of the prime accused, Raja Jaisingh.

On August 29, Raja and his associates were having a feast at a betel shop near Raghunath Nagar. Sanatan passed by the shop, while on his way back home. There was a minor collision between his bike and that of Raja’s. This lead to a heated exchange of words between Raja and Sanatan, who then returned home.

However, Raja and his associates went to his house and asked him to come to the betel shop. Sanatan was overpowered by his associates and two women. As Sanatan began to resist, Raja stabbed him in the neck and chest killing him on the spot.

Efforts are underway to nab Raja, police said.

Also Read: Youth Murdered In Bhubaneswar, Four Detained