Four miscreants involved in the brutal murder of a contractor at Chandeswar Square under Tangi police limits in Khordha district have been arrested, police said on Saturday. The accused have been identified as Manoj Parida, Santosh Pradhan, Dilip Kumar Surjit and Gangadhar Subudhi.
Khordha SP, Siddhart Kataria said that the deceased contractor Ramesh Rout was killed as he came to know about the miscreants' involvement in a dacoity case.
"All the accused were involved in a robbery incident at Mayurbhanj on June 14. The deceased contractor was present when he learnt about the robbery. A scuffle broke out and the miscreants killed the contractor as the robbery was disclosed before him," said Kataria.
It is pertinent to mention here that deceased contractor Ramesh Rout of Radhamohanpur of Khordha district was shot dead allegedly by two miscreants on June 18. Rout was returning home when the miscreants intercepted and fired three rounds at him. He died on the spot as the shots were fired from close range.
Police had launched a probe as the exact motive behind the murder was not immediately known.
Senior police officials said that the accused Manoj Parida of Ganjam district is a noted criminal and around 13 cases are pending against him at various police stations. All the four accused involved in the contractor's murder have been produced before the court.