Puri: Police have arrested Narayan Pattajoshi (57) for the murder of an 83-year-old servitor, Jagannath Dikshit, on Debasnana Purnima in Odisha’s Puri town.
Police sources attributed the murder to an unpaid Rs 15,000 loan, which Pattajoshi, a roadside food stall owner, had taken from Dikshit months ago to expand his business. He, however, spent it on alcohol instead. The servitor scolded him recently over delay in repayment of the loan. Following this, Pattajoshi planned the murder.
Dikshit was a kothabhoga supakar (temple cook).
On Wednesday, he lured him to his Gudia Sahi home under the pretence of settling the debt while he was returning after performing the seva in the 12th century shrine , suffocated him with a pillow and struck his face with a heavy object, killing him instantly. He then cleaned the blood from his home and dumped the body on the street. CCTV footage captured him disposing of the body, leading to his arrest at his in-laws’ house on Puri’s outskirts.
The incident took place at a time when elaborate security arrangements were put in place in the pilgrim town for the Snana Purnima.
Speaking to the media, Puri SP Vinit Agrawal: “The murder incident has taken place under the Puri town police limits…The accused has been apprehended. There was personal enmity between them over money transactions…Samples have been collected from the spot…Chargesheet will be filed after completing the investigation.”
