Police arrest tribal leader's son for killing him

Berhampur: In a major breakthrough, Odisha police today arrested the son of eminent tribal leader Edunga Gamang, who was murdered by unidentified assailant over two weeks ago.

Gamang (55), a front-ranking leader of Lok Sangram Manch (LSM), a local tribal outfit, was allegedly killed on May 23 by his 30-year-old son Bishal Gamang at Kumarabandh in Ganjam district.

Bishal was arrested from his house at Mallijhara village under Sheragada police station limit. The weapon used to kill his father was also seized from the house.

"During interrogation the accused confessed to have murdered his father with the sharp weapon," said officer in-charge of Badagada police station Jibanananda Jena.

On the motive of the murder, police said the father-son duo had a dispute over property. "Bishal had separated from his father three years ago and was living at the house of his father-in-law at Mallijhari. He was working in Kerala."

Bishal, police said, decided to kill his father after he came to know that the tribal leader was planning to marry another woman. "Suspecting that the properties might be divided if his father marries again, Bishal killed him," police said.

Bishal was the only son of Gamang.

He allegedly confessed to the police that he killed his father when he was sleeping in the verandha of the house.

Police recovered Gamang's body lying in a pool of blood the next day.

"Preliminary investigation revealed that Bishal alone was involved in the murder of the tribal leader.

Further investigation was on," they said.

Gamang was fighting for the implementation of the Forest Right Act in tribal pockets. He was, however, suspended from the LSM about one-and-half years ago due to indiscipline in the organisation.