Bhanjanagar: Local police Saturday night arrested Surya Polei, a former chairperson of Aska NAC, in connection with a contract killing bid on notorious criminal Rabi Nahak while the latter was being produced in Bhanjanagar court.
Acting on a tip-off, police made the arrest from Baunsalundi under Bhanjanagar police limits while Surya was fleeing to Rourkela. Surya has 15 cases against his name in Aska police station, two each in Tarsingh and Bhanjanagar police stations and a case in West Bengal.
He was produced in the court Sunday. The police had earlier arrested two contact killers Babul Pashwan, an ex PLFI member from Jharkhand, and Jitendra Nayak of Ganjam in connection with the murder attempt.
According to sources, Surya is a cousin of Pratap Polei, a bus owner and husband of BJD councillor Babita Polai, who was earlier shot dead in a moving bus.
Police investigation revealed Rabi had killed Pratap over rivalry following which he was arrested and lodged in Bhanjanagar sub-jail.
Infuriated over his cousin’s murder, Surya hatched a plan to eliminate Rabi while the latter was being produced in a court. He hired two contract killers who demanded Rs 10 lakh for the murder.
Surya handed over Rs 3 lakh in advance to Babul promising to pay the remaining amount after execution of the murder. The three reached Bhanjanagar to kill Rabi.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand police, who were on the lookout for Babul came to know of his movements and alerted Bhanjanagar police who sealed all check-posts and launched a manhunt to arrest the three.
The three tried to escape after firing at the police. In retaliation, police opened fire in which Babul and Jitendra were injured and arrested. Acting on their confessions, police arrested Surya.
Police suspect the involvement of many more persons and launched a further probe, Bhanjanagar SDPO Utkal Keshari Das said. PNN
