Aska: The town police have cracked the murder of Sadananda Lenka alias Bahana, 50, a BJD leader and the brother of a Sarpanch of Kharia panchayat in Ganjam district Tuesday. Five more persons, including a woman, were arrested in this connection.
With the arrest of the five, the number of arrests touched seven as the cops had earlier arrested two siblings, Sunil Jena and Krushna Jena, both hardcore criminals and contract killers, after an encounter, January 7.
Five other accused are Dilip Kumar Nayak of Babanpur, Gourahari Panda of Humuki, Rashinath alias Mangulu Bhanja of Nuagaon, Bhagban Jena of Humuki village and his wife Kuni Jena. The couple are the parents of the two brothers, police said.
The police seized a gun, five live bullets, four bikes and four mobile phones from Dilip, IIC Santosh Kumar Jena told the media. The murder was caused by previous enmity, the IIC added.
The case diary said a relative of the accused Susant Jena alias Hatia was shot dead August 23, 2017. The family of Susant suspected Bahana was behind the murder. So they decided to eliminate him.
The two brothers went to West Bengal and bought the gun and the bullets from a person for Rs 45,000.
The two brothers had attacked Bahana last April. But he escaped. Since then, the two brothers were waiting for another chance and they got it December 31. Meanwhile, they practiced firing at a hill near the village.
On the day of the incident, the two brothers and Dilip followed Bahana while he and an associate were riding back on a bike. The three chased and fired several bullets at Bahana near the College Chhak in the town, and he died on the spot.
Police seized the body and sent it for autopsy. Bahana’s associate who escaped unhurt was detained by the police for interrogation.
On receipt of information, the police arrested Sunil and Krushna Jena after an encounter in which the two brothers sustained bullet injuries below their right knee. They were admitted to Aska government hospital, but were later shifted to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.
The police seized two pistols, five live bullets, Rs 17,500 and one motorcycle from them.
PNN