Soro: A probe team today claimed to have cracked the murder mystery of a youth, who was found dead late last night near Talanagar locality on NH-16 under Soro police limits in Balasore district. Police have arrested two persons in this connection and launched a detailed investigation.

The deceased was identified as Rabinarayan Guli, who belonged to Gundicha temple locality under Town police limits of Puri. The arrested youths are Sibun Patra (23) from Chudangana Sahi and Pratyush Senapati (23) from Dolamandap Sahi, both under Puri Town police limits.

Allegedly, the murder was a fallout of an illegal firearms deal and the arrested are friends of the deceased youth. The victim was stabbed to death and the accused were arrested in around less than five hours, Balasore Superintendent of Police Sagarika Nath said in a presser held here in the afternoon.

According to the SP, Rabinarayan was previously in love with a girl named Usamani Das from Talapada village under Bahanaga block and had married her and the couple was residing in the village.

Rabinarayan was on his way riding a motorcycle (OD-01 AV-7874) when he was attacked by the accused over past enmity. The accused youths fled from the spot soon after committing the crime, the SP stated.

Later, Rabinarayan was taken to a hospital in Soro by some locals with the help of NH patrolling team. However, doctors at the health facility declared him ‘received dead’. On being informed by the locals, a team of Soro police reached the hospital and seized the body. Police have registered a case (No-663/2024) and the probe is underway.