Commissionerate Police nabs prime accused in Balianta murder case

Bhubaneswar: A day after the brutal murder of a youth stunned Bhubaneswar, Commissionerate Police today arrested the prime accused Shrastha Routray alias Mamun.

Routray was arrested for allegedly hacking his younger brother Pritam Routray to death near Atalagarh under Balianta police limits on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on June 7.

The cops arrested Shrastha from Phulnakhara in Cuttack district in the wee hours today, said reports.

Sources said Shrastha and Pritam hail from Haripur village under Mahanga police limits of Cuttack district and were staying in rented apartment in Bhubaneswar for the last three years. The family members of the siblings are missing after the incident.

Shrastha was identified based on CCTV camera footage and in the video, he was purportedly seen fleeing the spot with the ‘murder weapon’ after allegedly hacking his brother to death.

While the exact reason behind Pritam’s murder is yet to be ascertained, senior police officials suspect it to be the fallout of some family dispute.

Sources said Pritam was threatening his father and Shrastha for property. However, the illicit relationship of Pritam with Shrastha’s wife cannot be ruled out.