Puri, August 13: In a major breakthrough in the murder of a minor boy in Chilika under Krushnaprasad police limits, police have arrested 18 persons, including the prime accused, Ganesh Das.

According to Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) Prateek Singh, all the arrested persons are residents of Chandraput village in Khordha district.

The arrests were made by Krushnaprasad police in connection with the incident reported on August 10.

The deceased minor has been identified as Omm Shikari. Two other persons sustained injuries in the attack. Police have also seized three boats and a wooden plank allegedly used in the crime.

Following the incident, police launched an intensive investigation under the direct supervision of the SP. The case was initially registered under charges of kidnapping and attempt to murder. During the investigation, it was subsequently reclassified as a case of dacoity with murder.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs and following sustained efforts, the police teams carried out simultaneous raids at several locations. Within 48 hours of the FIR being registered, all 18 accused persons were arrested.

SP Prateek Singh said further legal action would be taken as per law.

The arrested persons are being interrogated to ascertain the exact sequence of events, their individual roles and the circumstances leading to the minor boy's death.

According to police, the incident occurred between 6 pm and 7 pm on August 10. A group of alleged prawn thieves from Chandraput village under Balugaon Police Station in Khordha district reportedly reached the fishing area of Kumarpur village under Ramalenka Gram Panchayat and Krushnaprasad police station.

Police said the group was armed with deadly weapons and attacked those who resisted their alleged attempt to steal prawns from a khanda owned by complainant Chinmay Behera of Kumarpur village.

The accused allegedly assaulted Behera, his brother and the minor boy, Om Shikari. While the complainant and his brother managed to escape, the minor boy sustained fatal injuries and died.

His body was recovered from the spot nearly 20 hours after the incident.