Bhubaneswar: The triple murder incident at a doctor’s residence in Khandagiri Vihar area shook the entire state in 2014.Though the entire incident was caught on CCTV cameras installed at the place, the culprits are yet to be convicted.
The accused, Sneha Swakhyar Samal, a medical representative-turned-chemist hacked Atulya Meher, an orthopedic with a city-based private medical college , the caretaker Prashant Behera, and his minor son Munu.
The unfortunate incident has left irreversible scars on the lives of the victims’ family members and even the accused, Samal. Despite the lapse of about four since the gruesome incident, the victim families are still waiting for justice and appropriate punishment to the murderer. On the other hand, Samal’s family too are trying to get out of the humiliation and shame and don’t wish to wipe out the fateful day from their memory.
Tears rolled down from the cheeks of Kunu Behera, widow of Prashant, while narrating the heart-wrenching incident. According to her, “The doctor’s younger daughter had gone to college leaving the gate open at around 6.30 am October 14, 2014. Taking advantage of the situation, Samal entered the house with a flower bouquet and a bag in which he carried the weapon he used in the crime.” He informed Kunu that he wanted to meet Dr Meher and also asked her to call his husband to fetch some sweets from the market, as he forgot to bring them.
Talking to Orissa POST, Kunu revealed, “I came back and sent my husband to Samal. Few minutes later, I heard his loud cry. The murderer also killed my son Munu, who rushed there on hearing his scream, before my eyes.”
Kunu herself sustained severe injuries while resisting the mover of the killer. Despite her critical injuries, she pleaded with the onlookers to catch the killer, but to no avail. Subsequently, a hapless Kunu lied down on the road bringing the traffic to a halt.
Eventually, some locals nabbed Samal and called the police around 7.30 am. The entire incident was recorded on the CCTV. The victims were rushed to a hospital where doctors declared them ‘brought dead’. Kunu somehow managed to survive and is now making a living by serving as a home guard at Khandagiri police station. She has been staying in the Khandagiri police station premises with her younger son – who is studying in Saraswati Sishu Mandir at Dharam Vihar area.
On the other hand, Meher’s widow is yet to recover from the trauma yet. Since then, she has been staying with her elder daughter in the USA and seldom comes here. Even during her stay in the city, she does not meet anyone, except close relatives.
In the court, the defence lawyer pleaded that Samal was suffering from mental disorder and he even underwent treatment in Cuttack on the directions of the high court.
