3 youths kill salesman following brawl over Rs 10 in Odisha’s Bolangir, arrested

Patnagarh: A salesman working in a liquor shop was allegedly killed by being beaten by three youths following an altercation over Rs 10 at Khaprakhol police limits in Bolangir district, on Sunday evening. Local police later arrested the accused trio on being informed about the fatal mishap, today.

The arrested trio was identified as Biswanath Nial (28), Laxman Das (30), and Jogindra Bariha (28) from Kharkhara village in the district. The deceased salesman was identified as Gopal Prasad (33).

According to a source, the youths had gone to the foreign liquor (FL) off-shop. The trio purchased and consumed liquor and again went to the retail outlet to buy more. Gopal was present on the counter and by mistake, he showed a bottle with an old price of Rs 180 printed on it. He later rectified his mistake and brought another bottle with the new price of Rs 190 printed on it. However, the youths did not agree to pay the increased price and argued with Gopal over the price difference.

Biswanath, Laxman, and Jogindra indulged in an altercation with victim Gopal. Things took an ugly turn when, in a fit of rage, the arrested trio severely beat him with a stick lying nearby.

After Khaprakhol police were informed, a team reached the spot and rescued the salesman from a pool of blood, and admitted him to the community health centre (CHC) in Khaprakhol for treatment. Later, the victim was shifted to Patnagarh sub-divisional hospital (SDH) after his condition deteriorated.

Again Gopal was taken to VIMSAR in Burla where he died while undergoing treatment.

Police registered a case in this connection and launched a probe and forwarded the trio to court.