Accused Knew Victim, Earlier Fight Led To Murder At PMG Square In Bhubaneswar: Police

Bhubaneswar: Police on Wednesday said that a couple, asleep on a footpath near PMG Square in front of the Odisha Assembly here, was attacked on April 10 night because of a fight earlier that day.

The man died while his wife sustained critical injuries. The attackers spared their child. Police on Tuesday arrested two persons identified as Rajesh Mahapatra alias Raja from Ganjam and Ajay Rout alias Gedu from Dhenkanal. Both were known to the deceased Babulu Behera.

Behera, his wife Puja and their minor son had been living on the verandah of the India Post ATM near the PMG office for the past few months.

During their stay in the city, Behera had come in contact with the accused, both labourers who too lived on the footpath.

According to police, there was a fight between the accused and Behera’s family on April 10 afternoon. Around 1 am that night, the accused, to settle scores, attacked Behera with an iron rod. As Puja woke up, she too was attacked.

The murder weapon has been recovered from a nearby bush. The accused were nabbed while planning to escape to Chennai. Police said both are history-sheeters.