60 houses set on fire over man’s ‘murder’; 3 cops injured

Bhubaneswar: Unidentified miscreants on Monday afternoon set as many as 60 houses of Adivasi Sahi in Dadhimachhagadia under Khurda Sadar Police limits on fire over the alleged murder of a crusher owner in the area two days back.

Sources said tension erupted after one group of the village blamed another for the death of Sujit Biswal, who was killed while he was returning home with his friend on Saturday night.

At least three police personnel have been injured in the melee, sources added.

Sensing trouble, two platoons of force have been deployed in the area while two more are on their way to the spot.

According to sources, the incident had taken place when Biswal was returning home with his friend Santosh Pradhan on a motorcycle. When the duo was approaching the village, a car coming from the opposite direction hit their two-wheeler and they fell on the road.

Within a few seconds, the miscreants who had come in the car assaulted Biswal. One of them hit him with a heavy boulder. Meanwhile, Santosh managed to escape. Local traders spotted the blood-soaked body of Biswal and rushed him to Khurdha district headquarters hospital where doctors declared him dead.

While it was suspected that previous enmity may be the reason behind the brutal murder, business rivalry could not be ruled out, a senior police official said.