Deogaon: Deogaon police have finally cracked after three years the mystery behind the murder of Gajanan Meher, a resident of Hatisara village in Bolangir district, with the arrest of the accused, officials said Tuesday.
Police had been on the lookout for accused Shira Rana for the past three years. He was finally nabbed Tuesday and police took him to the crime spot to recreate the scene which led to Gajanan’s death.
A botched-up deal between Shira and Gajanan led to the latter’s death, Deogaon police station IIC, Tarabati Pradhan informed.
Police said that Shira had given 250gm of gold to Gajanan, the owner of a jewellery shop. A deal was finalised that Gajanan will sell the gold and give Rs10 lakh to Shira and take Rs30,000 as commission.
Gajanan called up Shira November 6, 2020 and asked the latter to come to Bangla Square here to collect the money. Shira arrived and so did Gajanan along with an accomplice and the three then went to a secluded spot behind the Haragouri temple here.
Gajanan handed Rs10 lakh to Shira. However, while counting, Shira discovered a number of fake notes. A heated argument broke out between Shira, Gajanan and his associate. Suddenly Gajanan and his accomplice attacked Shira. During the scuffle that followed, Gajanan lost his footing and suffered a severe fall dying on the spot. Seeing Gajanan dead, his associate fled the scene. Fearing arrest, Shira took Gajanan’s body and two-wheeler to a secluded area. He then disposed of the body and two-wheeler there and left the spot.
Since then he had been on the run for close to three years. Police got a tip-off that Shira had come to his native village and managed to nab him easily.
Shira was forwarded to court after a case (No 262/20) was registered at Deogaon police station, Pradhan informed.
PNN