Sambalpur: Tension ran high in Sambalpur city in western Odisha following a double murder in broad daylight on Monday.
The deceased have been identified as Sujit Nag and Shankar Mukhi.
Aware of the tension in the city following the incident, elaborate security arrangements have been made in and around Thelakopada area with adequate deployment of police force. The situation is being closely monitored by the Sambalpur SP Sanjib Arora and Additional SP and senior police officers.
According to sources, one Pandab Mukhi, a history-sheeter of Thelakopada area, used to extort money from the people through his gang members despite protests. He was earlier booked under the National Security Act (NSA). Fed up with his modus operandi, the disgruntled people of the locality had formed a group.
The bitterness and acrimony between the two groups reached a climax on Monday morning when Sujit Nag, a member of the opposite group, was intercepted by Pandab’s gang members who allegedly attacked him with sharp weapons. He was rushed to the district headquarters hospital where the doctors pronounced him as ‘brought dead’.
Soon after his death, violence struck Thelakopada as the Pandab’s rival group members barged into his house and reportedly set it on fire. They dragged Pandab’s younger brother Shankar and lynched him on the spot. They also severely thrashed another rival gang member whose condition is stated to be critical, sources in the district headquarters hospital said.
The incident took place around 8 am.
Meanwhile, police sent the bodies for post-mortem and begun investigation into the incident.
Till reports last came in, police arrested the prime accused Pandab Mukhi for the murder of Sujit Nag.
