Angul: In a startling revelation, Kushakila double murder accused Jhasaketan Rout admitted during interrogation that he had murdered two more persons in a similar manner one year ago and buried them a few meters away from the place where he had buried the bodies of Jogeswar and Hiranakhya.
"During interrogation, Jhasaketan today confessed to have murdered two others - Abala Gadnayak and her nephew Kumuda Sahu belonging to Kukurpeta village near Chhendipada, over some financial issues," Angul Sub-divisional Police officer (SDPO) RN Deo told news reporters today.
Jhasaketan had borrowed around Rs 2 lakh from the aunt-nephew duo a few years ago. Asked to pay the money back along with interest, he flatly refused to pay. After an altercation with Kumud, Jhasaketan planned to eliminate the duo to escape their constant badgering, the police officer said.
As per his plan, he called Abala near the Saraswati Sishumandir. When she reached there, Jhasaketan hit her head with an asbestos sheet. Abala fell into a pit which he had dug there earlier. Later, he also called Kumud and buried him in the same pit after murdering him in similar style," the SDPO said.
A missing case was registered at Chhendipada police station a few months ago, Deo added.
“We will move court seeking three-day remand of the accused for interrogation. Extension of the remand period may be sought if required,” Deo said.
The police yesterday came out with the fact that two brothers - Jogeswar and Hiranakhya of Kushakila village - were not missing but were murdered by Jhasaketan.
Jhasketan, who was arrested on Wednesday night, admitted that he had killed Jogeswar Sahu (35) and his brother Hiranakhya Sahu (34) on February 4 night and buried them. Jogeswar was the son of former sarpanch Rajkishore Sahu, police said.
Revenge over monetary issues was the motive behind the double murder, Angul SP Rajesh Pandit had said yesterday.
Rajkishore had sold seven acres of land to Jhasaketan. Later, on scrutiny, it was found that about 2.9 acres of the sold land had already been gifted to an institute. Jhasaketan demanded that Rajkishore either arrange for 2.9 acres of land elsewhere or return the total amount of Rs 35 lakh. But, neither Rajkishore nor his family responded to his demand. Jhasaketan then made a plan to eliminate the brothers.
On February 4 night, Jhasaketan called Jogeswar and Hiranakhya to a site near the village on the pretext of discussing the issue. There he hit Jogeswar on the head with a shovel and threw him into the well, which he had dug up. When Hiranakhya came to the site, Jhasaketan killed him too in a similar manner and threw him into the well.
Jhasaketan spent the night in the village and then fled to Balasore. Next day, the former sarpanch lodged a complaint at Jarapara police station stating that his son and nephew were missing. In his complaint, he expressed suspicion about Jhasaketan’s involvement.