Bhubaneswar Police have reportedly uncovered a chilling connection between the fatal stabbing incident at Niladri Vihar and the car crash at Sishu Bhawan Square in Odisha capital.
The murder occurred shortly before the vehicle crashed through the guardwall of Sishu Bhawan overbridge this morning, plunging dangerously close to houses at Kedarpalli slum below.
According to sources, Satyabrata Pradhan, a resident of Hasinipur village in Brahmagiri, was fatally stabbed around 11 pm on Sunday near Mangala Mandir in Niladri Vihar. He drove to Bhubaneswar in his employer’s car, which was later involved in the crash, to meet his girlfriend, a woman from Jagatsinghpur who works at a beauty parlour in Chandrasekharpur.
The woman had put up a ‘Chocolate Day after midnight’ post on social media, which police believe set off a series of events culminating in the murder. It is being alleged that one Dinesh Kandhi, who is reported to be her ex, soon arrived at the house and stabbed Satyabrata repeatedly in the neck with a knife, after an argument broke out over their relationships. Pradhan managed to stagger out to the main road, shouting desperately for help.
Thereafter, the woman called an ambulance and informed her neighbours, who followed behind in Pradhan’s car while he was being taken to Capital Hospital. However, doctors declared him dead upon arrival.
Sources further stated that the owner of the car, registered in Brahmagiri area, rushed to Bhubaneswar along with another driver upon learning about the stabbing incident. The accident took place as they were allegedly speeding away after picking the car from Capital Hospital, fearing the vehicle would be seized as evidence in the murder case.
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Police have detained both the car owner and the driver at the Capital police station for questioning. Further investigation is underway to ascertain whether the owner had any prior links with the accused duo. The woman is also in police custody, while Dinesh is absconding.
More details and confirmation from police on the sequence of events are awaited.
