Bolangir: In a major breakthrough the Bolangir police on Wednesday arrested seven persons in connection with the gruesome massacre of six members of a family which came to light on November 11.
Superintendent of Police (SP), Bolangir, Sandeep Sampad said nine persons were involved in the spine-chilling murders that had sent shockwaves across the State. Two more accused are still at large, police said.
Sampad, who addressed a press conference to announce the arrests, said that the crime was a fall out of old enmity between Bulu Jani with the accused.
"Three families-Ganja, Jani and Majhi were nurturing a grudge against Bulu Jani as the latter had been torturing them since the last 10 years. Unable to bear any further harassment, the three families ganged up and hatched a plan to eliminate Jani and the rest of his family members," Sampad said.
"On that night, they entered Jani's house with firearms and sharp weapons in their hands. Initially, they had plans to kill Bulu only. However, they changed their plans and decided to eliminate all family members, including the children, thinking that they (children) might avenge their fathers' death after they grew up," Sampad said, adding, "After committing the crime, the assailants attempted to hide the weapons used in the murders," Sampad added.
Asked about the absconding accused, the SP said, "Efforts are on to arrest the culprits. We are trying to file the charge sheet as soon as possible and press for maximum punishment to the accused persons for the brutal act."
Giving details, the SP said that Babulal Jani and Gangua Majhi were the masterminds of the mass murder.
On the fateful night, Gangua opened fire on Bulu when the latter stepped out of his house to attend nature's call. However, the bullet missed its target and Bulu managed to run back to his house. The six assailants followed him and forced their entry into the house. Once inside, they took out daggers, swords and other sharp weapons they were carrying and massacred the family," the SP said, adding, "They also carried a bottle of petrol with them to set the house on fire in the event they failed to gain entry into the house."
Notably. the six-member of the family, including a couple and their four children, were found dead inside their house at Sanrapada under Patnagarh police limits in Bolangir district on November 11. Apart from Bulu Jani (50), his wife Jyoti (38), daughters Sarita (12), Sriya (3), sons Bhisma (5) and Sanjeev (2) were also found dead.
Though the deceased are the permanent residents of Bihar, they had been living in Patnagarh for more than 10 years.