Bhubaneswar, Oct 14: In a major development in the murder case of AIIMS Bhubaneswar employee Sudhanshu Khuntia, the Khandagiri Police has arrested four accused persons linked to the crime.

ACP (Zone III) Tapas Chandra Pradhan identified the arrested individuals as Bhalu alias Sukanta Pradhan, Chhabi alias Suvendu Pradhan, Rakesh Khuntia alias Raka, and Kanha alias Subrat Sahoo. All four have been taken into custody for their alleged involvement in the murder.

According to the ACP, a case (Khandagiri PS Case No. 738 dated 13.10.25) was registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act, based on a written complaint filed by Debasish Khuntia, Sudhanshu’s younger brother.

The complaint cited long-standing enmity between the two families over a land dispute.

The dispute reportedly involves the families of Pathani Khuntia (the complainant’s side) and Sukanta Pradhan (one of the accused). A civil case concerning the matter is currently pending before the Civil Court in Bhubaneswar, and Sudhanshu had earlier testified in connection with it.

Sudhanshu Khuntia, who worked as a lab assistant at AIIMS Bhubaneswar through an outsourcing agency, was shot dead on October 13 on the road leading to the hospital. Police officials have stated that the murder was pre-planned and carried out due to the ongoing land dispute between the two families.