Berhampur: A man hacked to death his disabled friend, who lived as a tenant in his house, following a simmering dispute regarding repayment of money for the mortgaged house at Goudsahi in Haridakhandi here Friday night.
The deceased was identified as Shankar Majhi, 48, alias Shiva Shankar, a native of Rautpentha. The accused landlord was identified as Goura Behera. Police have sealed the house where the murder took place and recovered a bloodstained sword from inside. Majhi’s brother, Chakadola Majhi, filed a complaint at the local police station, leading to the registration of a murder case (367/25). An investigation is underway. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the deceased Shankar’s wife was a former Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) corporator. The couple had separated from his wife for unspecified reasons, and staying at the rented house in Goudasahi, Haridakhandi, owned by his friend Goura Behera. Behera, who was also separated from his wife, had mortgaged the house to Shankar for Rs 2.5 lakh. Despite the arrangement, both men continued living in the same house, often engaging in heated arguments.
Shankar repeatedly told Behera he would vacate the property once the money was repaid, but Behera allegedly ignored his requests. The ongoing tension eventually escalated to the violent confrontation that claimed Shankar’s life. Goura allegedly attacked Shankar with a sword following an argument between the two Friday night, police said. According to police, Goura locked the house from the outside and fled the scene, leaving Shankar bleeding inside.
Residents called the emergency helpline 112, and officers from Badabazar police station were alerted because the door was locked from the outside. Police broke the lock, rescued Shankar and rushed him to MKCG Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The body was handed over to the family member Saturday after a post-mortem. Police said Goura remains at large.
