Bhubaneswar, May 12: Four individuals accused in the gruesome murder of Ajit Kumar Sahoo in Nayagarh’s Odagaon have been arrested within 24 hours of the crime, said Dr. Satyajit Naik, IGP of the Central Range, Cuttack.
Speaking at a press conference in Nayagarh, Dr. Naik confirmed that the four accused were apprehended from different locations. Their names and details are as follows:
These four individuals, charged under Sections 103(1)/61(2)/3(5) BNS, have been formally arrested and will be produced before the court.
Police have deployed sufficient forces in and around the area to maintain law and order, while monitoring the situation closely to take necessary precautionary measures.
During the investigation, scientific teams were deployed promptly to aid in tracking down the suspects. Several police units, organized by the SP of Nayagarh, successfully traced and apprehended the accused. Additional teams are working to identify other suspects and recover vehicles involved in the case.
The murder occurred when Ajit Kumar Sahoo, along with his friend Santosh Kumar Pradhan, was attacked by six individuals near the roadside. Reports suggest the confrontation arose from a dispute over illegal laterite stone mining. Ajit suffered fatal injuries, including the severing of his right hand, and died at the scene while the attackers fled.
Preliminary investigations indicate that earlier that night, around 12:50 a.m., Ajit and his friend had intercepted two trucks carrying laterite stone, reportedly demanding money. The truck owner, alerted by his driver, arrived at the site, followed by others in an SUV and a motorcycle, escalating tensions. During the altercation, one of the accused drew a sword and attacked Ajit, while another restrained him, leading to repeated sword blows.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage among locals, who blocked roads to demand strict action against both the attackers and illegal mining activities. A memorandum highlighting these concerns has been submitted to the authorities.
