Polasara/Berhampur: Police late Friday night arrested the fourth accused in connection with the murder of Kamala Swain (45) after she protested against the eve-teasing of her daughter at Bhabarada village under Polasara police limits in Ganjam district.
The accused was identified as Subash Jena. Acting on a tip-off, police conducted a raid and arrested Jena from his sister’s house at Hirapali village under Madhupali panchayat, Polasara IIC Tapaswini Kanhar said.
All the accused in the murder case have been arrested, Tapaswini said. Akshay Sahoo had been arrested on the third day of the murder while Narayan Nahak and Manoj Nahak were arrested on the fourth day. Jena was absconding and the police arrested him on the sixth day of the murder.
A case was registered and Jena produced in court Saturday. Meanwhile, police prepared a long list and arrested 20 persons for ransacking the local police station and setting 10 Boleros, motorcycles and bi-cycles on fire. They were produced in court, police said. Six minor boys were also detained for interrogation.
Kamala Swain (45) was beaten to death by miscreants after her husband had filed an FIR against four persons who had passed lewd comments at their school-going daughter.
However, after investigation police claimed the murder was the fallout of a family dispute between the Swains and Nahaks. IG Amitabh Thakur and SP Asish Singh confirmed it at a press meet.
According to police, Narayan and Manoj passed lewd comments on Swain’s daughter March 5. A case was registered and the two brothers were arrested and produced in court.
Meanwhile, Kamala lodged a written complaint against the father of the accused Arjun Nahak and mother Susanti Nahak over a past dispute May 18. A case was registered and Arjun and Susanti arrested and produced in court. This enraged the siblings who hatched a plan to take revenge on Swain and her family.
As per the plan, the two brothers along with Sahoo and Jena armed with sharp-edged weapons stormed Swain’s house to finish every member of her family. They attacked Kamala leading to her death on the spot while Prakash managed to escape and climbed a tree in a bid to save his life. Kamala’s daughters hid themselves behind a water pump. After killing Kamala, the four fled the village.
Later, the girls in an auto-rickshaw admitted Kamala to Polasara CHC. However, doctors declared her brought dead. The family members staged a road blockade by keeping the body in front of Polsara police station demanding immediate arrest of the accused. The situation turned ugly when a mob set ablaze vehicles and damaged furniture of the police station Sunday. PNN
