Stone mafia hacks two brothers to death

Khurda: Tension ran high at Kaipadar village under Khurda Sadar Police limits following the brutal murder of two brothers of the village by a group of stone mafia last night.

Police found the bodies of Swetabahana Samantsimhar and his brother Bakari Samantsimhar with their head crushed with stones from near the Tangeni Mundia hill side this morning.

Family members have alleged that the two brothers have been killed by a group of stone mafia numbering 20-25.

They said the two brothers, who were doing granite stone business in Khurda district for some years, had a business rivalry with a group of stone mafia.

Is not yet known who were the killers and why they killed the two brothers.

Talking to media persons, Harihar Pani, SDPO, Khurda said most of the land in this area belongs to Lord Jagannath. Barring the Malipada quarry which the Odisha High Court has allowed to operate, all stone quarries in this area are running illegally.

“Preliminary investigation has revealed that five members of a stone mafia had a dispute with these two brothers over stone quarrying near the village last night. I have formed a special team comprising of the IICs of Town Police station, Sadar Police station and Jankia police station to trace the killers at the earliest,” he added.