Kotagarh: Police Saturday arrested three persons including a minor following the murder of former chairperson of Kotagarh block in Kandhamal district who had been found dead under mysterious circumstances Monday.
A three-member team led by Kandhamal SP Pinak Mishra along with additional SP Laxman patel, Balliguda SDPO Surendra Nath Murmu, Kotagarh IIC Tishul Kumar Majhi busted the case.
A case was registered based on a complaint by the deceased Shyamsundar Patamajhi’s wife Surekha Patamajhi, a Samiti member of Subarnagiri panchayat and an investigation was launched.
Police sprung to action and arrested the mastermind, a Plus II student of Kotagarh Ashram Bapuji College along with two others Nikadam Badamajhi (38) of Bandiguda village and Nika Muthamajhi (30) of Rodaha village.
According to police, Badamajhi had a fight with Patamajhi’s younger brother Susant Patamajhi eight years ago where Badamajhi had broken his hand. In an act of revenge, Badamajhi contracted a supari killer Muthamajhi promising to pay `40,000 for the murder.
Later, Muthamajhi along with the minor called Patamajhi for a drinking session. Later, they made him fully drunk and carried out the murder plan and subsequently dumped his body on a canal bank.
The matter came to light Monday when locals noticed the body and informed his family members at Bandiguda over phone. Family members rushed to the spot and claimed Majhi was killed and subsequently dumped in the canal.
His wife Surekha Patamajhi and a Samiti member of Subarnagiri panchayat lodged a complaint in Kotagarh police station. Police registered a case and sniffer dogs and a forensic team were also pressed into service.
Acting on a tip-off, police cracked the case and seized `19,900 and `8,700 respectively, two mobile phones, two SIM cards, deceased’s slippers and a trolley used in the crime, the SP revealed before the media at a press meet. The minor is in the police custody and will be produced before the judge, SP added.
Supported by the Congress, Majhi was the chairperson of Kotagarh panchayat samiti from 2002 to 2006. He was also an active leader of Pahadi Sangram Manch.
Majhi, an active political organiser, had enormous clout with people in Ora, Subarnagiri, Srirampur, Jubaguda, Madaguda, Marlangi, Durgapangi panchayats in Kotagarh block.
Alleging that it was a case of murder, they blocked Kotagarh main road and closed all shops demanding arrest of the culprits.
They relented after Murmu assured them of arresting the accused soon. PNN