Puri Triple Murder: 4 Detained, Police Launch Manhunt To Trace Others

Puri: Three persons including two brothers of former sarpanch of Sadanandpur, Ajay Behera were brutally hacked to death by miscreants in broad daylight near Pattnaikiya Chhak on Cuttack-Puri National Highway on Sunday. Following an investigation, police have detained four persons in this connection.

The bodies of the deceased- Krushna Behera, Purna Behera and Panchu Behera of Sadanadapur were handed over to their families after post mortem. However, three platoons of police forces have been deployed in the area to avoid any untoward incident with markets and shops still shut due to outrage by the locals.

"Prior to this, the same persons had attacked me and other members of my family during Satasankha Melana. I was harassed by them. I had even lodged a complaint at the Satyabadi police station. There was a threat to my husband's life and I begged before them to help me. Police then assured me that they will look into it," said wife of one of the deceased.

Meanwhile, Puri SP Umashankar Das has claimed family feud over land dispute as the reason behind the gruesome murders.

"All the accused directly involved in the murder or been a part of the conspiracy, have been identified. We have detained four persons so far and interrogating them. All the accused will be arrested soon," said Das.

"Yesterday's incident cannot be tagged as a triple murder. It was rather an outcome of a family feud due to land dispute. There have been instances of scuffle in the family earlier, which took a violent turn yesterday," added the SP.