Malkangiri: In a major breakthrough in the murder case of a web journalist in Malkangiri district, the police have arrested two youths from Hyderabad.

According to police sources, the accused—Sukumar Ray and Konkan Jordar, both residents of Motu in Malkangiri—were apprehended in Hyderabad based on intelligence inputs.

On July 12, web journalist CH Naresh, along with four others, had travelled to Motu in an Ertiga vehicle for news coverage. Near Muruliguda village, about 9 km from the Motu police station, Sukumar and Konkan were already present at the location.

An altercation broke out between the two accused and CH Naresh as the journalist passed by. During the scuffle, the duo attacked Naresh with a sword, inflicting grievous injuries on his left hand. They also chased Tarun Kumar, one of the individuals accompanying Naresh in the Ertiga.

Tarun managed to escape by throwing the car keys into the nearby jungle before fleeing. The accused then fled the scene in the Ertiga vehicle.

Tarun later informed some friends about the incident and returned to the scene with them. The injured journalist was rushed to Motu hospital in an ambulance and was later referred to the District Headquarters Hospital in Malkangiri, where doctors declared him brought dead.

A case (Motu PS Case No. 79/2025) was registered under Section 310(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with relevant provisions of the Arms Act, 1959. Following this, the Malkangiri SP formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), comprising Additional SP Rashmi Ranjan Senapati, DSP R. Pradhan, and other officers to assist the Motu IIC in the probe.

After committing the murder, the two accused had fled to Hyderabad. The Police have recovered the Ertiga vehicle used by the victim and also seized a motorcycle used by the accused.