8 held for murder bid on groom in Balangir
Balangir: Villagers foiled an alleged murder attempt on a groom during his wedding ceremony in Balangir district’s Babijore around Sunday midnight, police said. Locals handed over eight attackers, including a minor, to the police.
The accused were identified as Sahil Deep (18), Laxmikanta Kuanr (18), Amaresh Mirdha (21), Saktiman Bhoi (18), Chamuru Bhoi (20), Lipun Kuanr (18), Sushil Sahu (23) and the minor. They are residents of Bhimadungri, Kukurkhai and Thalbandha villages. The main accused, Sushanta Biswal of Mahalei village, is on the run, police said.
Rajkumar Pradhan of Gaibahal village had arrived in Babijore with his wedding party when the accused attempted to attack him.
Netrananda Padhan, Rajkumar’s father, said that Sushanta and seven others entered the wedding venue in an intoxicated state around midnight. “We grew suspicious and detained them for questioning. One of them fired a bullet in the air, but villagers managed to overpower them. Upon searching them, we discovered a pistol and other weapons. We immediately contacted the police and handed over the suspects,” he said.
Police later said the motive behind the attempted murder was a land dispute between Sushanta’s in-laws and the Pradhan family. Rajkumar is a relative of Sushanta’s in-laws, and the two families have been involved in a prolonged feud over a piece of land. Sushanta reportedly planned to kill Rajkumar on the night of his wedding. He allegedly contacted several youths from nearby villages and devised the plan to attack Rajkumar.
“We arrested seven of the accused, while the minor will be produced before the court. We are actively searching for Sushanta and expect to apprehend him soon,” said Bulu Munda, inspector in-charge of Deogaon police station.
“We seized a country-made pistol, a hammer, two knives, a packet of chilli powder, three tiger claws and some banned drugs from the accused,” Munda added.
The accused were identified as Sahil Deep (18), Laxmikanta Kuanr (18), Amaresh Mirdha (21), Saktiman Bhoi (18), Chamuru Bhoi (20), Lipun Kuanr (18), Sushil Sahu (23) and the minor. They are residents of Bhimadungri, Kukurkhai and Thalbandha villages. The main accused, Sushanta Biswal of Mahalei village, is on the run, police said.
Rajkumar Pradhan of Gaibahal village had arrived in Babijore with his wedding party when the accused attempted to attack him.
Netrananda Padhan, Rajkumar’s father, said that Sushanta and seven others entered the wedding venue in an intoxicated state around midnight. “We grew suspicious and detained them for questioning. One of them fired a bullet in the air, but villagers managed to overpower them. Upon searching them, we discovered a pistol and other weapons. We immediately contacted the police and handed over the suspects,” he said.
Police later said the motive behind the attempted murder was a land dispute between Sushanta’s in-laws and the Pradhan family. Rajkumar is a relative of Sushanta’s in-laws, and the two families have been involved in a prolonged feud over a piece of land. Sushanta reportedly planned to kill Rajkumar on the night of his wedding. He allegedly contacted several youths from nearby villages and devised the plan to attack Rajkumar.
“We arrested seven of the accused, while the minor will be produced before the court. We are actively searching for Sushanta and expect to apprehend him soon,” said Bulu Munda, inspector in-charge of Deogaon police station.
“We seized a country-made pistol, a hammer, two knives, a packet of chilli powder, three tiger claws and some banned drugs from the accused,” Munda added.
