Labour unrest behind AVP murder: Police

Dhenkanal: A day after the brutal murder of a senior employee of Mangilal Roongta company here, police today claimed that labour unrest is the sole reason behind the heinous crime.

“Both the accused belong to nearby Motanga village of the district, who had lost their lands when the company’s ferry alloy plant was set up in 2009. We suspect when they repeatedly failed to get permanent employment in the company, the duo decided to commit the crime,” Dhenkanal sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Rajkishore Behera, who is investigating the matter said.

“We got to know about the accused, Sujit Sahu and Tikayat Pradhan from the death statement of Ravi Narayan Mishra,” Behera added.

Police, after arresting the accused yesterday, have forwarded them to jail.

Sources said, both Sahu and Pradhan were labour union leaders.

Meanwhile, recounting the incident, driver of Mishra’s vehicle in which he was on his way to office on the fateful day said, the duo first waylaid the vehicle and one of them dragged the officer out of the vehicle.

“I couldn’t come out to protect my boss as the other person had held me at a knife point and threatened to kill me,” Nityananda Khuntia, driver of Mishra’s vehicle said.

They brutally beat Mishra with iron rods and sharp weapons and fled the spot after sometime, Khuntia said.