Sharmili Mallick

Bolangir: In a suspected political rivalry, the former sarpanch of Mahulpati panchayat, Dilip Sahu was allegedly killed by his political opponents in Bolangir district on Friday night.

As per reports, Dilip Sahu was returning home on June 21 when some miscreants allegedly attacked him with sharp weapons near Tureikela Railway Station. Sahu reportedly succumbed to the injuries on the spot.

Father of the deceased, who is a former Tureikela block chairman, Alekh Sahu has alleged that his son and his supporters used to protest the corrupt activities and irregularities of the Mahulpati panchayat’s present Sarpanch Mita Sahu. Hence, out of fear of getting exposed, her relatives killed Dilip, alleged Alekh.

"Hemant Sahu's (alleged to be the mastermind of the attack) two sons- Sushant Sahu and Srikant Sahu came in a motorcycle and hacked my son to death with a sharp weapon," he alleged.

“Dilip was returning from Tureikela railway station on Friday night when Sushant and Srikant attacked Dilip. There was a fight between Sushant and Dilip earlier but the case was compromised after police intervention. Later, Sushant had threatened Dilip to take revenge on him in the police station and the incident is the fallout of that enmity," said Dilip's elder brother, Sanjeev Sahu.

Dilip and an RTI activist Kartik Sahu had jointly exposed a PDS rice scam worth Rs 1 crore in Mahulpati panchayat. Later, the duo had also exposed irregularities of around Rs 50 lakh in MGNREGA scheme in the panchayat. They had also complained regarding the matter to the Block Development Officer (BDO), said sources.

Srikant and Sushant were reportedly detained by police for interrogation on Saturday. However, Mita Sahu's mother-in-law Hiamadri Sahu has refuted the allegation saying that they are being framed in the murder.

"Dilip Sahu's family was defeated in the last panchayat elections and that is why they are talking nonsense. They are trying to defame us," claimed Himadri.

Kantabanji SDPO, Saroj Mohapatra said, "Dilip Sahu's family has accused two persons in the murder case. A case in this regard has been registered at the Tureikela Police Station and an investigation is underway."

 

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