Bhubaneswar: Residents of Capital City woke up to a spine-chilling murder Thursday as a 59-year-old man killed his brother-in-law at Mendhasal under Chandaka police station over a dispute. The deceased was identified as Pravat Biswal, 55, and the accused Laxmidhar Das. Three family members –two sons of the deceased and the son of the accused- who tried to intervene when the two fought violently, also sustained grievous injuries. A senior officer at Chandaka police station said the injured persons, identified as Rabi Das, 33, Basudev Biswal, 26 and Subham Biswal, 13, are currently battling for life in a local hospital. Meanwhile, accused Laxmidhar was arrested under Sections 103 (murder), 109 (attempt to commit murder) and 118 (2) (voluntarily hurting an individual) of BNS. Chandaka IIC Pradeep Kumar Jena said Pradeep was at odds with accused Laxmidhar since long as the latter assaulted his sister under the influence of alcohol. Laxmidhar used to stay at his in-laws’ house and was working as an electrician with the Railways. He was splurging his monthly earnings on alcohol.
Owing to his drinking habits, Laxmidhar recently had a violent altercation with Pradeep following which he moved to his paternal home in Gangapada. IIC Jena said the scuffle ensued in the wee hours of Thursday after Laxmidhar arrived at his in-laws’ house in a drunken state and created a ruckus. When Pradeep objected to his behaviour, Laxmidhar stabbed him with a knife multiple times. Hearing Pradeep’s muffled screams for help, his nephew and both sons came to his rescue. Laxmidhar also attacked them repeatedly with the knife and fled the spot. Laxmidhar was produced before a local court in the evening for remand.
DEBADURLLAV HARICHANDAN, OP