Berhampur: Nearly a week after Congress candidate for Aska Assembly constituency Manoj Jena was murdered, Ganjam police claims to have cracked the case.
Local police Monday issued a lookout circular against seven men in connection with the incident to block their bids to sneak into other states. This apart, the police have requested the banks to freeze their accounts.
The accused, however, are yet to be arrested even though Aska and Berhampur police have formed three special teams to nab the killers.
“A specific gang of Aska area is involved in the murder. We will arrest the culprits soon,” said Berhampur SP Prabhat Routray.
Jena was murdered while he was on his way to his village in Nuagaon for preparation of counting of votes May 22 evening. At least four motorcycle-borne miscreants had fired at the 37-year-old Congress leader in Lanjipalli area under Baidyanathpur police station limits in Ganjam district. After firing, the miscreants had also slit his throat injuring him grievously.
He was admitted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur and then shifted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar, but succumbed to his injuries May 24.
Police had seized a revolver and a motorcycle, suspected to have been used by the assailants, near Golantara road. They also had arrested 12 men, including seven from Aska, three from Bhanjanagar and two from Bhubaneswar, for interrogation.