Bhanjanagar: Police claimed to have arrested three persons who were on the run after firing at a man at Bhanjangar bus-stand in Ganjam district on the night of July 6.
The accused trio was identified as Sima Nayak, Rahul Nayak and Veer Nayak. The victim was identified as Kanhu Gouda of Chakundapali village.
Acting on a tip-off about the presence of the accused trio in a forest near Bahadajhola of Nayagarh district, a police team raided the place and nabbed them. The police seized a pistol, two bullets and a motorcycle from them.
The police briefed the media about the arrests of the accused on Sunday evening and produced them in the court of the sub-divisional judicial magistrate here. The court sent them to judicial custody.
According to sources, Sima used to manage a stone quarry at Kaliapali. He had a business rivalry with Kanhu who also ran a stone quarry.
So, he hatched a plan to eliminate him and convinced Rahul and Veer. As per plan, the trio was checking on the movements of Kanhu.
They followed Kanhu while he had gone to pick up his brother from Bhanjanagar bus-stand. Later, they opened fire at Kanhu. Luckily, the bullets missed Kanhu following which the trio sped away on their motorbike.
Based on a complaint by Kanhu, police registered a case and made the arrest. Further probe is on, a police official said.
PNN