Cuttack: Olatpur police Monday claimed to have arrested five persons over their alleged indulgence in the murderous attack on Swami Vivekananda National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (SVNIRTAR) director Shakti Prasad Das here July 3.
Laxmidhar Mallik (56) of Kalanga area under Bolgarh police limits in Khurda, Bashir Khan (32) and Ayub Khan (30) of Brahmanajharilo under Cuttack Sadar police limits, Sayed Saddam (28) of Chandini Chowk under Lalbagh police limits and Susant Mallik (35) of Nakhara under Choudwar police limits have been taken into custody. A country pistol, a scooter (OD-02-BB-8202), a motorcycle (OD-05-AK-6859), five cellphones and Rs 5,000 cash were recovered from them, superintendent of police (SP) Radha Binod Panigrahi told the media here Monday.
About the intension behind the murderous attack, the SP said, “Susant bore a grudge against the victim for which he gave Rs 35,000 to Laxmidhar in order to eliminate Das. Laxmidhar, along with the other accused, executed the attack,” the SP said.
According to the case details, Das was on his way home in a four-wheeler (OD-02-AJ-5256) July 3 evening when some masked miscreants attacked his vehicle near Damodarpur, breaking the rear windshield. “They tried to shoot Das from a point blank range, but failed as the pistol slipped from the accused person’s hand. Later, they (miscreants) managed to flee the spot,” the SP said referring to Das’ police compliant.
Soon after, the SVNIRTAR director approached the Olatpur police which registered a case (57/19) under Sections 307, 427 and 34 of the IPC apart from 25 and 27 of the Arms Act and begun a probe.