Panchayat officer, bro-in-law arrested for wife’s murder
Rourkela: A panchayat executive officer and an assistant sub-inspector were arrested by Tikyatpalli police in Sundargarh district on Friday evening for allegedly murdering the former’s pregnant wife.
The accused have been identified as Deben Kumar Behera (35), panchayat executive officer in Gurundia block, and his brother-in-law Satya Narayan Behera (48), an ASI posted at Uditnagar court.
The victim, Samyamayee Behera (33), who was seven months’ pregnant, was found dead on Dec 12. Initially, Deben Kumar reported to police that armed robbers had shot his wife and stolen her gold chain. However, police probe revealed it was a fabricated story.
Police said Deben Kumar shot his wife with a country-made pistol that he had illegally kept with himself around 12:30 am when she stepped out of the washroom. After the murder, he allegedly contacted Satya Narayan, who helped conceal the crime and dispose of the murder weapon.
The victim’s father, Poyambar Behera from Chhendipada, Angul district, alleged foul play in his complaint, noting that his daughter had spent only 10 days at her marital home since her marriage on Feb 7, 2023.
“Investigation revealed that the murder was premeditated, motivated by Deben Kumar’s affair with another woman,” DIG Brijesh Kumar Rai told a press conference at the Rourkela police district office.
A special team led by additional SPs and SDPO of Panposh found discrepancies in statements and forensic evidence that led to the arrests. The murder weapon has been recovered from Deben Kumar’s residence.
Both accused will be produced in court on Saturday.
The accused have been identified as Deben Kumar Behera (35), panchayat executive officer in Gurundia block, and his brother-in-law Satya Narayan Behera (48), an ASI posted at Uditnagar court.
The victim, Samyamayee Behera (33), who was seven months’ pregnant, was found dead on Dec 12. Initially, Deben Kumar reported to police that armed robbers had shot his wife and stolen her gold chain. However, police probe revealed it was a fabricated story.
Police said Deben Kumar shot his wife with a country-made pistol that he had illegally kept with himself around 12:30 am when she stepped out of the washroom. After the murder, he allegedly contacted Satya Narayan, who helped conceal the crime and dispose of the murder weapon.
The victim’s father, Poyambar Behera from Chhendipada, Angul district, alleged foul play in his complaint, noting that his daughter had spent only 10 days at her marital home since her marriage on Feb 7, 2023.
“Investigation revealed that the murder was premeditated, motivated by Deben Kumar’s affair with another woman,” DIG Brijesh Kumar Rai told a press conference at the Rourkela police district office.
A special team led by additional SPs and SDPO of Panposh found discrepancies in statements and forensic evidence that led to the arrests. The murder weapon has been recovered from Deben Kumar’s residence.
Both accused will be produced in court on Saturday.
