Jajpur: The Jajpur police have cracked the murder of 23-year-old Soumya Sagar Samal, who was shot dead on the night of April 6 near the residence of former MLA Pranab Prakash Das, with the arrest of five persons, including his wife on Monday.
According to Jajpur SP Yashpratap Shrimal, investigation revealed that his wife Subhasree Behera had shared his location with the killers. “We have call records, including WhatsApp call details,” he told a presser.
The incident occurred between 10:30 and 10:45 pm on April 6 when Soumya, a native of Kuansarapur in Jajpur, was returning home on his two-wheeler after closing his shop in the Sitaleswar area. He had then told his wife he would reach home within the next half hour. Soumya and Subhasree had tied the knot a year and a half back. They had a love marriage.
The SP said that technical evidence and analysis of Subhasree’s mobile suggested that she was in a relationship with one Priti Prava Priyadarsini alias Chinu Khilar for the past six years with whom she ran a beauty parlour in Jajpur town. “Subhasree would often visit her home and there she met her cousin, Tapas Khilar, and they too got into a relationship,” he said.
He identified the main accused as Tapas, his sister Chinu and Subhasree. “Tapas and Subhasree continued with their relationship even after her wedding and often visited tourist spots. On Holi, Soumya had an argument with his wife. He also has a scuffle with Tapas. Soumya also spoke ill about his cousin,” he said.
According to Shrimal, Tapas turned vindictive and orchestrated the murder along with his cousin. “He had earlier told Subhasree to leave her husband and marry him. Chinu had financed the entire plan and transferred Rs 49,000 with which Tapas procured the firearm from two contacts in Rourkela, Suraj Singh and Ankit Thakur,” he said.
Tapas, who stays in Rourkela and worked as a driver, took the pistol from them on March 27 and received training on how to use the weapon. He opened fire on Soumya near Kalimegha area under Jajpur Town police limits after getting inputs about his location, leaving him critically injured. He was rushed to Jajpur district headquarters hospital and later to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Police have recovered the crime weapon from the canal near the premises of Jajati Keshari Medical College and Hospital.
“The crime scene has been recreated with the accused. Since it is a sensitive case, we will take it to a fast-track court and ensure that the judgment is delivered within a year,” the SP added.
