Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, July 28: Commissionerate Police late Monday night arrested Rajendra Barik alias Raju from Khandapada in Nayagarh district in connection with the murder of a sand and gravel contractor at an under-construction building site near AIIMS in Patrapada June 18.
Dillip Nayak (38) was shot dead in broad daylight by a gang allegedly led by Raju over a dispute in connection with a private housing project. “The police were tipped off that Raju was hiding at his aunt’s house in Khandapada after which a team comprising Zone III ACP Pratap Kumar Swain, Khandagiri inspector-in-charge Sarath Kumar Sahu and other officials visited the town July 27 night and raided the house,” twin city police commissioner Rajendra Prasad Sharma informed the media Tuesday.
“Raju had fled to Raghunath Nagar with his two associates soon after the incident. He then slipped to Puri by boarding an autorickshaw which charged him `600. Raju was carrying `60, 000 with him and used to sleep in an autorickshaw during his stay in Puri. A team from here had also visited the city but was unable to trace him. He was in Puri on the Rath Yatra day, but hired a cab for `2,200 July 20 to go to Khandapada,” he added.
Sharma also asserted that Raju would be taken on remand for further interrogation, if required. The police also said Raju had shaved his head and beard to avoid getting recognised.
“He used to change his SIM cards and mobile phones to avoid getting traced. We’ve seized one revolver, two live ammunition, two mobile phones, and three SIM cards from his possession,” the police added.
However, Raju claimed that his elder brother Upendra Barik had opened fire at the contractor. Upendra, who is now languishing in jail in connection with the same case, had said that Raju had shot dead Dillip.
Meanwhile, Raju was produced in a local court Tuesday. Raju had allegedly threatened Dillip not to take up the present contract at the disputed site. He had allegedly demanded `10 lakh from Dillip if he wanted to take up the project. Police have arrested four persons in connection with the case so far.
