Puri murder case: 7 minors among 9 arrested

As many as nine accused including seven minor boys and a father-son duo were arrested by Puri police on Wednesday in connection with the murder case of Harihara Sahu.

As many as two accused are still on the run. Police have identified them and started a search operation to nab them.

A sword, a couple of choppers and a dagger were seized from the possession of the accused. The accused will be taken into remand as part of the investigation process.

As per police sources, the murder was committed over an ongoing family conflict related to the ‘Khaja’ (a kind of popular sweet in Puri) business.

Meanwhile, Puri SP Pinak Mishra expressed concern over the growth in the number of juvenile criminals in the city.

Mishra said that steps will be taken for counselling minors against whom criminal cases have been registered in various police stations.

 ‘Seven among the arrested are children in conflict with the law. They are below 18 years of age. Two other accused Bijay Kumar Khuntia and Rakesh Kumar Khuntia are of 45 and 20 years of age respectively. As per the preliminary investigation, the murder was committed due to conflict over ‘Khaja’ (a popular sweet in Puri) business,” said Mishra.

Notably, victim Harihar Sahu is the father of the key accused in the Dinesh Khuntia murder case. Harihar Sahu was reportedly killed to avenge Dinesh Khuntia's murder.  Dinesh Khuntia’s father and brother are also among the arrested.