Bhubaneswar youth Rupesh Panda attacked mother-daughter duo over loot for loan repayment: Police

Bhubaneswar: Revealing the reason behind the alleged attack on a mother-daughter duo by one Rupesh Panda in Sailashree Vihar area here on November 1, Bhubaneswar DCP Umashankar Das today said the accused committed the offence with an intention of loot for repaying a home loan.

“Rupesh had taken a loan for construction of his house. He had also taken money from other sources. He and his associate Sanjay Panda had planned the loot for repayment of the loan,” the police official said.

“During investigation, it was ascertained that Rupesh and Sanjay, employees of a private regional news channel, had hatched the loot plan, a month ago. For this purpose, they had purchases knife, toy gun, rope, woman dress and other items from Unit-I market and Patia area,” the DCP said.

“On the fateful day, Rupesh reached the house of the girl, who is his neighbour, in an auto-rickshaw. After wearing the woman dress and a helmet to conceal his identity, he attacked her with a knife. Hearing her screams for help, her mother rushed to the spot and both defended themselves. Their efforts were commendable. All of them had sustained injuries in the incident. While the accused was detained and later arrested after being discharged from hospital, the condition of the victim is stable now,” said Das.

Sanjay was also arrested from his residence in Nayapalli area here. Further investigation into the incident is underway, the official said.