Firing over ‘extortion’: Police arrest main accused, his aide in Odisha’s Cuttack

Athagarh: In a crackdown, police today arrested the key accused and his accomplice in connection with a firing incident that took place on April 10. A man was opened fire allegedly demanding Dadabati (extortion) at Mahidharpur village under Athagarh police limits in Cuttack district.

The key accused was identified as Dilip Palei alias Dilu and his aide as Satyabrata Naik alias Ramu. The duo was arrested from near Choudwar town and police have seized a firearm used in the crime from their possession, Athagarh SDPO Rabindra Kumar Mallick said in a presser held here.

Worth mentioning, the victim man is a tractor driver and he has been identified as Biswajit Palei from the district. Biswajit was engaged in soil-laying work at Mahidharpur. Five miscreants including Dilip Palei alias Dilu came near the victim and demanded extortion money. He was on his way to the work site when he was intercepted at the crime spot. As he expressed his inability to pay the demanded amount, the miscreants opened fire at him and fled from the spot soon after committing the crime.

Biswajit was rescued by some locals and was immediately admitted to a government-run hospital in Athagarh for treatment. The injured youth sustained bullet injuries on his abdomen. He was later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) in Cuttack after his condition deteriorated.