Cuttack: In a major breakthrough in the murder of a 32-year-old man in Odisha’s Cuttack, the Commissionerate Police arrested five persons in connection with the firing incident during a feast at Nuapada Press colony in the city.
The deceased was identified as Soumyaranjan Jena, a resident of the area.
Five persons have been arrested in connection with the shooting incident which claimed the life of Jena, Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo said on Friday.
Police said the incident took place on Wednesday afternoon when Soumya and his friends had gathered at an abandoned government quarter for a feast. What began as a feast turned violent following a heated argument between Soumya and another participant, Utkal Keshari Pashayet. The two reportedly exchanged sharp remarks during the feast as the participants were reportedly under the influence of intoxicants.
Following the altercation, Utkal Keshari allegedly opened fire at Soumya from close range. He was first rushed to a private hospital by two of his friends and later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
In course of investigation, police found that after the shooting, the accused tried to mislead investigators by shifting the blame to Nadu alias Abhijit Mohanty. They allegedly planned to project him as the main accused and helped him escape with the firearm in an attempt to destroy evidence and confuse the police.
However, the case took a significant turn after police apprehended Nadu from Bhubaneswar along with the weapon used in the crime. Following his interrogation, police uncovered the sequence of events and identified the main accused.
The police have arrested Utkal Keshari for allegedly firing the fatal shot. Three others, Priyabrata Tripathy, Himanshu Sekhar Nayak and Rudra Prasad Chand, have been arrested for allegedly supplying the firearm, hiding the weapon, helping the accused escape and attempting to destroy evidence.
Further investigation in the sensational murder case is in progress.
