​​​​​​​Bhubaneswar, August 27:Rourkela Police has solved a two-and-a-half-year-old murder case and arrested two accused, Rahul alias Sardhan Sharma (48) and Ajay Patra (33).

The victim, Mangal Oram of Jamberna, had gone to Jhirpani weekly market in his Mahindra pick-up on February 28, 2024, but went missing. His body was later recovered from a waterlogged agricultural field in Kharwagada, Jharkhand.

Police investigation revealed that the accused allegedly hired Oram’s vehicle, gave him tea mixed with sleeping pills and took him towards Jharkhand after he became unconscious. He was allegedly thrown into a waterlogged field, where he drowned. The accused later sold the vehicle for Rs 1.70 lakh.

Police have recovered the stolen vehicle and said both arrested accused have previous criminal records involving theft and robbery.

Further investigation is underway to identify other possible accomplices.