Bhubaneswar: In a major breakthrough in the sensational murder case of Om Prakash Swain (Omm) and Deepak Mallick (Dipu), once close associates of criminals Dhala Samanta brothers, the Commissionerate police has arrested the duo’s sharp shooter Arif Khan from Madurai in Tamil Nadu.
Khan was sent to 14-day judicial custody after he was produced in a court here.
“We had come to know about Khan during investigation of the murder of Om and Dipu. While probing the case, the other accused and witnesses had divulged the name of Khan. After getting concrete information about his whereabouts, a special team was sent to Madurai and he was nabbed from a place under Tirumangapuram police limits of the district. He will be forwarded to court today,” Police commissioner YB Khurania informed the media at a press conference here.
Giving details about the criminal antecedents of Khan, the official stated, “Besides his role in the murder of Om and Dipu, he is also involved in an extortion case. We have got to know that Khan was initially working as the driver of D-brothers. After the death of Om and Dipu, he was used by his employer as their sharp shooter. He was also booked In some criminal cases and spent some time in jail,” Khurania stated.
During personal search of Khan, police have seized an identity card from his possession.
“We have seized a fake voter identity card in the name of one Rrajendra Behera during personal search of Khan. We are investigating the matter. During his house search here, some sharp cutting weapons have also been seized. We hope that the other accused in the case will be arrested soon,” the official said.
Official sources said 30 persons have been arrested so far in connection with the cases involving Dhala Samanata brothers.
In a related development, police today submitted the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test report of Om and Dipu before the Cuttack SDJM court. The test conducted on the skeletal remains exhumed from Jharkhand had matched with the family members of Dipu and Omm.