Sambalpur, July 20: Police have arrested three people in connection with the alleged abduction and murder of a 24-year-old woman in Kuchinda, Sambalpur district. The accused include the woman's boyfriend, Anil Pruseth, and his associates, Subhit Makar and Ashok Kisan. All three have been produced before a local court.

According to police, the victim, Sarita Sahu, a resident of Mahulaguda village under the Kusumi outpost, had been working at a beauty parlour in Kuchinda for the past eight months. Investigators said she had been in a relationship with Anil, a plumber from Telikundaposi village, for nearly two years.

Police alleged that tensions had developed in the relationship after Sarita repeatedly asked Anil to marry her. Investigators believe Anil planned the murder after avoiding the marriage proposal for several months.

On July 16, Anil allegedly invited Sarita to go out with him. Police said he arrived with two friends in a Bolero SUV, picked Sarita up from outside her workplace on a scooter, and later joined the vehicle. While travelling towards Jamankira, an argument reportedly broke out between the couple over marriage.

According to the investigation, Anil allegedly strangled Sarita with her scarf during the altercation. Police said the three accused later disposed of her body in the Badarama Ghat area.

The case gained momentum after Sarita's father lodged a complaint naming Anil as the prime suspect. During questioning, police alleged that Anil initially denied travelling with the victim and claimed he had last seen her at the Kuchinda playground.

Investigators said mobile phone tracking, call detail records (CDRs), and mobile tower data contradicted his statements. Police further alleged that Anil attempted to mislead the investigation by giving false information about the location of the body before eventually confessing and leading officers to the actual site where it had been dumped.

A medical team at the Kuchinda Sub-Divisional Hospital conducted the post-mortem examination on Sunday, while a forensic team collected evidence from the scene. Police said they have seized the scarf allegedly used in the crime, the Bolero vehicle, a mobile phone, and other biological evidence as part of the investigation.

The investigation is ongoing.