Cuttack, Jan 16: The Cuttack Police have arrested a person involved in the murder of a 60-year-old man in Cuttack. The accused, identified as Ashok Samal (65), was arrested within days of the crime following a thorough investigation involving CCTV footage, technical analysis, and local intelligence.
The case, registered at Badambadi Police Station as Case No. 22 dated January 11, 2026, was based on a complaint filed by Rajesh Kumar Das of Hazari Lane, Purighat. The complainant reported that his uncle, Prakash Das (60), had been brutally murdered in the early hours of January 11 near the Khannagar Kathajodi riverbank.
On being informed, senior officers from Cuttack Urban Police District, including the Inspector-in-Charge of Badambadi Police Station, the ACP of Zone-VI, and the Special Squad, immediately rushed to the crime scene. A scientific team conducted a thorough examination, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed under the direction of the Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, to ensure a swift resolution to the case.
The breakthrough came with the collection of CCTV footage from nearby areas, which showed a lone individual approaching the crime scene from the Manimandir side and fleeing towards the CNBT Bus Stand after the incident. Using this footage, along with technical evidence and intelligence gathered on the ground, investigators identified Ashok Samal, a resident of Jobra, Samal Sahi in Cuttack, as the prime suspect.
During interrogation, police learned that the accused and the victim were acquaintances who often drank alcohol together. On January 10, the two reportedly met near the CNBT Bus Stand and went to a railway underbridge near Press Chak to drink. After consuming alcohol, Prakash Das left Samal at the spot and returned home, while Samal, heavily intoxicated, fell asleep at the same location.
Upon regaining consciousness, Samal suspected that ₹4,000 had been stolen from his pocket by Prakash Das. He searched for the victim and found him sleeping near the Khannagar Ring Road. A heated argument ensued, during which Samal allegedly picked up a concrete stone and struck Prakash Das on the head. When the victim attempted to raise an alarm, he was attacked again with another stone, resulting in fatal injuries and his death on the spot.
Following the murder, Samal reportedly went to a petrol pump where he was employed and spent the night. He was later traced and arrested by the police. Samal is being produced before the court on Thursday, and his criminal background is currently under verification. Further investigation into the case is underway.
