Keonjhar/Barbil: In a shocking incident, the body of a Orissa Minerals Development Company (OMDC) staff was found with bullet injuries in Barbil town of Keonjhar district in Odisha here today. The deceased was identified as Dusasan Barik (55) of Dalaki slum in Barbil, a staff of OMDC at Thakurani here. Prima facie, it appears as if he was shot from point blank range. While the reason is still unknown till now, land dispute is suspected to have led to the crime.

Barbil police and a scientific team have started investigation into the matter. As per reports, Dusasan had gone to duty but did not return home on Friday night. The following day, his body was found with bullet injury on his head, behind a transmission tower at Barbil's Damu Hutting while his bike was around 200 metres away. Two live 9mm bullets and three empty beer bottles were also found near the body of the deceased.

Family members, on being asked, said Dusasan had not come home from office the previous  night and they got to know about his death in the morning. They, however, shared that Dusasan used to get into fights with neighbours over land-related matter and alleged that he has been murdered.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered and family members are being interrogated. Further investigation is underway, police said.