Manas Das, the chief Manababad Sangathan, has been arrested for abduction and murder of Satyabrata Nayak, informed Inspector General of Police (Central Range) Narasingha Bhol on Thursday.
Briefing the media in Bhubaneswar, Bhol said the accused, who was arrested at 4 pm today by a special team of Khordha police, has been charged with many serious crimes like abduction, murder, issuing life threats, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence.
“On August 3, Basant Nayak of Abhimanpur had lodged a complaint wth Begunia police station over abduction and murder of his uncle Satyabrata Nayak. Subsequently, a team was formed under Khordha SP and six persons were arrested on August 4,” Bhol said.
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Bhol said three of the arrested accused were brought on police remand with the permission of the court and interrogated. After interrogation and further inquiry, the police team found evidence and concluded that though Manas Das was not present at the crime scene, he remote controlled the murder of Satyabrata Nayak, he said.
“We found evidence against Manas Das, a resident of Bhubaneswar about his involvement in the abduction, murder and burning of body of Satyabrata Nayak to destroy evidence and threatening complainant. He was arrested at 4 pm. He has been charges under Sections 302, 363, 364, 201, 120B and 34 of IPC,” the IG said.
Bhol said the son of the accused, Manoranjan Das, has also been arrested in connection with assault of a father-son duo at Kadaba village.
“A case was filed against Manoranjan Das, the son of Manas Das, for mercilessly thrashing a man and his son. We have collected evidence against him and arrested him at 4.20 pm today,” Bhol added.
It is worth mentioning here that a disturbing video that ultimately led to the arrest of Manas Das had surfaced on the internet last month. In the video, the members of Manababad Sangathan were seen brutally thrashing Manguni Nayak and his son.
The viral video exposed the so-called humanitarian organisation which had been torturing and looting innocent villagers for not coming to their fold. Subsequently, many families who had fled their villages after being tortured by the organisation members had come forward and narrated their plight.
Meanwhile, Das and his son were sent to Khordha sub-jail after being produced before Khordha Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court.