Bhubaneswar, Feb 10: Odisha Police have uncovered a major criminal connection between a car crash at Sishu Bhawan Square in Bhubaneswar and a murder that took place earlier in the city. The crash, which occurred after a high-speed collision with a barricade, is directly linked to a murder reported on Sunday night near Mangala Mandir in Niladri Vihar. Two individuals, including a woman, have been detained for questioning in connection with the incident.

According to senior officials, the murder took place at around 11 pm on Sunday, when the victim, identified as Satyabrata (Satya) Pradhan alias Babuna, was fatally attacked near Mangala Mandir. Police have confirmed that the two incidents are interconnected, with further investigation revealing a clear nexus between the suspects' activities before and after the murder.

Satya, a driver residing in Hasinipur village in Brahmagiri, had been living with his girlfriend, Liza Bhoi, who worked at a beauty parlour in Chandrasekharpur. The car involved in the crash was also registered in the same locality. According to the police, a violent altercation took place earlier that evening, where Satya allegedly suffered fatal injuries after his throat was slit. Investigators suspect that the assault occurred before the car plunged from the overbridge.

The police have taken Liza Bhoi and Dinesh Kandi, a man from Jagatsinghpur, into custody for questioning. Liza and Satya had been living together in Niladri Vihar for the past seven months. The couple had celebrated Valentine’s Week together, including a midnight observance of Chocolate Day. Police believe a social media post by Liza triggered a series of events leading to Satya's death. It is alleged that Dinesh, another man connected to Liza, arrived at their residence armed with a knife and fatally stabbed Satya in the neck.

According to the victim’s family, Liza had been involved in relationships with multiple men and had promised to marry Satya. Investigators are now focusing on the role of the car’s owner, who is suspected of irregular behavior following the murder. The owner reportedly rushed to Bhubaneswar after learning about the incident and, along with another driver, attempted to retrieve the vehicle. While trying to leave the city, the car was driven at high speed and crashed into a barricade at Sishu Bhawan Square.

Both the car owner and the driver have been detained at the Capital Police Station for questioning. Authorities are now investigating whether the owner had any prior connections to the accused individuals, as the investigation into the case continues.