Criminal shot dead on Paradip-Daitary Expressway

Kendrapara, Sep 22:

In daylight shooting, a criminal was shot dead allegedly by his key accomplices near a traffic junction on Paradip-Daitary Expressway, 30 km from here on Sunday, police said.

The deceased was identified as Aswajit Sahu (32).

“Sahu was gunned down near a roadside eatery located on NH-5(A). His close associates numbering  five persons gunned him down from close range. He died on the spot as gunshots were fired at a hand shaking distance,” said Kendrapara Superintendent of Police Rabi Narayan Behera.

The deceased had history of crime. On extortion charge, he had been arrested few months back. He was released on bail recently. Those who killed Sahu were all having criminal antecedents, he said.

Police are looking into various angles of murder, police said declining to divulge details.

The assailants dined with the victim at the eatery near Kusunpur traffic junction. There was some verbal duel among them before Sahu was gunned down. The assailants swiftly fled on motor bikes, they said.

A manhunt has been launched to nab the culprits. The entry and exit routes to the place of occurrence have been sealed. The criminals have been identified and we are hopeful of arresting them at the earliest, the SP added.

Spurt in industrial activities and surge in mega construction projects in neighbouring Paradip area are providing ample opportunities for crime mongers to run extortion racket in places like Paradip, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara.(PTI)