Man, wife killed by younger brother over land sale dispute in Odisha’s Balangir

Soro: Days after a couple was found brutally murdered at a poultry farm in Soro block of Balasore district in Odisha, police claimed to have cracked the case by arresting two persons including a family member of the deceased, in this connection on Friday evening. The deceased were identified as 35-year-old Raghunath Behera and wife Prabhati of Munisabira village of Sabira panchayat within Soro police limits here. The main accused was Madhusudan Behera, raghunath’s younger brother and his aide Manas Jena of nearby Udapada village. They were arrested after  confessing to the crime during investigation.

Police said dispute over splitting the proceeds of a land sale deal prompted Madhusudan to carry out the heinous act. He was reportedly planning the murder since three months.

As per reports, Raghunath and wife Prabhati were coming towards the poultry farm on Wednesday night when Madhusudan and Manas attacked them. First they threw acid on them and later slit their throats with sword and knife. The accused duo then left the bodies there and fled.

The following day, the mother of the deceased Sabitri reached out to police after which a case was registered and investigation initiated. During probe, police detained three suspects including Madhusudan and Manas, both of whom confessed during questioning. They were then taken to the spot on Friday evening for recreation of the crime and arrested.

Sharing the information, Balsore police said the weapons used in the crime and other incriminating materials have also been seized. “Soro police successfully detected the unknown double murder case of Sabira village & apprehended 2 accused persons. The weapons of offence like sword and knife along with other incriminating materials were seized. This relates to PS case No. 131 u/s 302 IPC,” the official Twitter handle of SP Balasore read.