Three Youths Arrested For Murder Of Friend In Odisha’s Mayurbhanj

Baripada: Police have arrested three persons in connection with the sensational murder of a youth in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.

While one accused, Ashish Singh, was arrested from Balasore railway station, two accomplices were held from nearby Jambani village. During police interrogation, the accused confessed to have killed the youth, who was their friend, and buried his body on the bank of Budhabalanga river near Gumudihi village in Mayurbhanj district.

According to police, deceased Chandan Kumar Swain belonged to Hindulia village under Marshaghai police limits in Kendrapada district. His three friends murdered him on Saturday and buried his body on the bank of Budhabalanga river on the outskirts of Baripada town.

Chandan’s mutilated body was spotted by a villager on the riverbank on Thursday. He raised an alarm and informed the police.

A team of senior police officials, led by Baripada Sadar SDPO Sujit Kumar Pradhan, conducted an investigation into the sensational murder. Chandan’s body was exhumed by the police scientific team in the presence of a magistrate. Baripada police filed a case suspecting it to be a pre-planned murder.

Speaking to the media on Friday, SDPO Pradhan said, “The villager had spotted the hand of the deceased protruding from the sand on the river bank. When we exhumed the body, we found it to be of an adult male. Our findings revealed that the person was killed almost a week ago and his body was buried under the sand. A case was registered at Baripada Sadar police station and investigation began.”

Meanwhile, Chandan’s family, who stays in Bhubaneswar, had lodged a complaint at Kharavela Nagar police station stating that some unidentified persons had claimed to have kidnapped Chandan and were demanding Rs 50 lakh for his release.

During police investigation, it was revealed that Chandan Swain and his friends, who allegedly killed him, were working together in Bangalore. They had come to Odisha a few days back and even spent some time together in Bhubaneswar.

Later, the three accused, who are from Mayurbhanj district, called Chandan to Baripada. On Chandan’s arrival, as per plan, they allegedly killed him and buried him on the river bank.

Chandan’s family said, “We received a call from some unidentified persons who called from Chandan’s mobile phone to pay Rs 50 lakh to free him and one of his friends. They told us to meet them with the money at a location in Bhubaneswar.”

Unable to arrange such a huge amount, the friend tried to delay the matter telling the caller that they would need some time. Then the family filed the complaint with the police.