Malkangiri: The Malkangiri police’s special investigation team (SIT) has arrested two youths for their alleged role in the brutal murder of web news channel journalist Ch Naresh on July 12 near Muraliguda, under Motu police jurisdiction.
The accused have been identified as Sukumar Ray, 25, of MV-75 and Konkan Jordar, 21, of MPV-82, both villages under Motu police station limits.
The duo was nabbed from Hyderabad, Malkangiri SP Vinodh Patil told the media on Saturday. He added probe is underway to determine the motive behind the murder. “A forensic team, along with assistance from SFSL, visited the crime scene to collect evidence and develop sketches of the suspects. The sketches along with technical and circumstantial evidence led to the identification of Ray and Jordar, who had fled to Hyderabad,” he said.
He said that the duo was present near the crime scene, around 9 km from Motu.
Police have also recovered the SUV used by the victim and his friends, as well as the motorcycle used by the accused during the crime.
On July 12, Naresh and four companions were traveling in an SUV when the accused intercepted their vehicle near Muruliguda, leading to an altercation. Naresh was brutally assaulted with a sword, causing him to collapse on the spot. Fellow journalist Tarun Kumar managed to escape by throwing the car keys into the jungle. The assailants retrieved the keys and fled with the vehicle.
Naresh was first rushed to Motu hospital, and later referred to the district headquarters hospital, Malkangiri, where he was declared brought dead.