Odisha: Key accused in Panda Park slum murder case arrested after 14 months

Bhubaneswar: Commissionerate Police has arrested the prime accused in a murder that had occurred in the slum located near Panda Park in Bhubaneswar. He was absconding for nearly 14 months, informed Zone-VI ACP Ramesh Chandra Bisoi in a press conference held here today.

The arrested identified as Ashok Jena was nabbed from Mohana forest in Gajapati district.

According to a police source, an FIR was lodged alleging that the victim named Daityaraj Nayak aka Jatia had gone missing on 13 June, 2022. Based on the FIR, Chandrasekharpur police launched a probe. Later, the body of Jatia was found in a drain on June 16. Keeping in mind the circumstantial evidence, the initially registered U/d (unnatural death) case was converted to a murder case.

During a detailed probe, it was known that Ashok is a resident of the slum and was absconding. This raised the suspicion of the probe team. When police tried to nab him, the accused gave a slip to the team and fled elsewhere outside Odisha. Acting on a tip-off, he was arrested from Mohana.

Further investigation is underway, the senior police official said.