: It was not a land dispute alone, rather business rivalry and one-upmanship, that led to Friday’s shocking triple murder at Safipur under the Kandarpur police station located on the outskirts of the city. This was revealed by the twin city police commissioner R.P. Sharma here on Saturday after visiting the spot where the gruesome murders took place following a clash between two groups.
Mr Sharma said two separate cases have been registered in this connection, each filed by the rival factions. Investigations into both the cases are on simultaneously and the police commissioner said at least three persons from both the factions were arrested in this connection. “While one person was detained by the police for questioning, two others are absconding,” the police commissioner said adding that efforts are on to nab the absconders soon.
Speaking to newsmen, Mr Sharma said Ranjit Beura of local Chauliagang area along with his associates Deepak Ojha, Sanjay Swain, Situ Mohanty and Bablu Biswal came to Safipur village in a vehicle equipped with sharp cutting weapons. Ranjit had a house in the same village and he sent two of his associates to Kedar Naik’s house nearby summoning all four sons of Kedar, a rich and affluent person of the village.
“When the sons of Kedar refused to come to Ranjit’s place, an irate Ranjit along with his associates in an inebriated state rushed to Kedar’s house, armed with swords and other weapons. But Kedar and his sons managed to overpower the assailants, snatched their weapons and launched a counter-offensive, killing three of them and injuring the rest,” Mr. Sharma said, adding that Kedar and one of his sons, Bijay, also sustained injuries in the scuffle.
Police retrieved the bodies of Ranjit (42), his associates Sanjay (25) and Deepak (25) from the spot and said Situ and Bablu, who escaped from the spot with injuries in their bodies are now undergoing treatment. Similarly, Kedar and his son Bijay were also undergoing treatment after they were arrested.
While one other son of Kedar is now detained by the police, two others are absconding, police said.
Meanwhile, a pall of gloom has descended in Safipur after the horrific incident where panic-stricken villagers prefer to remain indoors. One section of the armed police is now deployed in the village along with the Kandarpur police station inspector Sangarm Behera.
