Puri: Police in Odisha’s Puri district have cracked a case in which a brutal murder was staged as a road accident, leading to the arrest of the prime accused and a conspirator.
The incident occurred on the night of May 1 at a farmhouse in Khadipada under Sadar police limits.
According to Puri SDPO Manas Ranjan Barik, 24-year-old Pintu Majhi of Raja Jankia under Chandapur police limits of Nayagarh district, allegedly killed Anil Ranjan Pani by striking him with an iron rod. He then fled the scene.
The victim’s brother, Sunil Ranjan Pani, shifted the body to a hospital and lodged a complaint at the police station reporting the death as an accident. “However, a detailed investigation revealed that the family and relatives of the complainant had been threatened with dire consequences, forcing them to portray the murder as a road mishap,” the SDPO, who was the investigating officer, said.
Police found that the conspirators had damaged the victim’s motorcycle and dumped it at Koilaada Chhak on the Puri-Brahmagiri National Highway to create a false narrative of accident. “This elaborate attempt to mislead police was eventually uncovered during the probe,” he added.
Barik identified the conspirator as Akhaya Rout (20) alias Dagara of Khadipada under Sadar police limits. He along with Majhi will be forwarded to court on Sunday, he said, adding that an iron rod, the alleged murder weapon, the damaged motorcycle of the victim and a mobile phone have been seized.
