Post News Network
Puri, June 23: Police arrested two youths who were involved in the June 10 murder of a contractor at Patnaikia Square on Bhubaneswar-Puri National Highway and seized a motorcycle and a pistol from them.
The accused have been identified as Manoj and Balaram. Three other accused involved in the crime are still on the run police officials said.
The arrested youth are members of the gang of robbers that was involved in the murder of the contractor, Manoranjan Behera. The gang members were involved in several loot and extortion cases in Pipli and Patnaikia areas, police officials said.
The gang members have committed several crimes on NH 203, but the police were clueless about them. However, after the firing at Patnaikia Square, police tightened the noose and busted the gang, sources said.
Police got a breakthrough in the case after verifying the footage of CCTV cameras installed at Pipli toll gate, sources said. Subsequently, a special team was formed by the district police and search operations were conducted at Nimapara, Satyabadi and Gop areas.
Police first arrested Manoj and nabbed Balaram on the basis of statements made by the former. The gang was involved in two incidents of loot on the highway in March.
Behera, a resident of Panasganda of Rajkanika in Kendrapara district, and his relative Renubala Behera were on their way to Puri June 10, sources said. When the two stopped at a shop between Teisipur Square and Satsankha to have cold drinks, Manoj and Balaram, who were sitting at the shop, noticed a gold chain Renubala was wearing and planned to snatch it.
The miscreants stalked Behera and Renubala on a bike and pushed Renubala from behind near Patnaikia Square. When Renubala fell off the bike, Manoj tried to snatch gold chain from her, but Behera caught hold of him. Manoj then pulled out a gun from his pocket and fired two bullets at Behera.
