Rayagada: In a case of double murder reported on Sunday night, Maa Majhighariani temple trustee N. P. Raju Chowdhury and his brother N Nageswar were brutally killed.
The incident took place on the premises of the temple, while the duo were returning after their darshan in Majhighariani temple.
Attacked out of the blue, while Raju died on the spot, Nageswar after being critically injured died on the way to hospital.
Police have sped up their investigation, while the miscreants have managed to flee from the site.
As per police reports, Raju and Nageswar are the brothers of the BJD leader - N Bhaskar Rao. Suspected to be a case of past rivalry involving the temple trust, deep injuries were found on the bodies of the duo and around their head and neck.
Following the incident, as a mark of protest shops remained closed and no buses plied on the road.
Meanwhile, worship in the temple has also been temporarily stalled.