Puri: Police today arrested six persons including the mastermind involved in the gruesome murders of three persons in full public glare at Pattnaikiya Chhak of the district Sunday afternoon, Police DG RP Sharma informed about the development today.
As per reports, three persons Krushna Behera, Purna Behera and Panchu Behera which include two brothers of a former local sarpanch of Sadanadapur, Ajay Behera, were attacked with sharp weapons by some miscreants.
All three succumbed to injuries on the spot, following which irate people vandalised vehicles on the highway and also staged a road blockade. The situation forced the district police to deploy 10 platoons of force in the area.
The incident sparked widespread outcry from Puri to the State Assembly with the Opposition political parties coming down heavily on the State government over failing to use the police in maintaining law and order in the State.
Puri SP Umashankar Das claimed family feud over land dispute as the reason behind the gruesome murders.
While four persons were detained in connection with the incident, Puri SP clarified that "the incident cannot be tagged as a triple murder. It was rather an outcome of a family feud due to land dispute. There have been instances of scuffle in the family earlier, which took a violent turn leading to the murders."
Later in the day, CM Naveen Patnaik said that the incident appeared to have taken place due to a long-standing land dispute between their families. "Six key accused have been apprehended so far and vigorous efforts are being made to arrest others," he added.
Meanwhile, police have so far arrested six persons including the prime accused and further investigation is on.