Two more arrested in Ganjam triple murder case

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Berhampur, Jan 14:

Police have arrested two more persons for their alleged involvement in the triple murder case under Mohana police station limits in Odisha’s Ganjam district.

With the arrest of Pabitra Behera and Sanatan Behera, the total number of accused arrested in the case has now gone up to eight.

On December 23, three natives of Padmanabhpur village under Digapahandi police station limits, Pradip Sethi, a notorious history sheeter, Jagannath Reddy and Nandeshu Reddy, were beaten to death and later their bodies taken to the Lakhari forest and burnt.

Pradip’s sister Pramila Sethi had filed an FIR suspecting that the three might have been murdered.

Police had found the charred remains of the three from the Lakhari forest and began an investigation into the case.

The incident had sent shock waves after the visual was aired on a private television channel of the two victims being mercilessly beaten despite their repeated appeals to stop and a group of onlookers watching the act.

Ganjam SP Satyajit Nayak has said, “In the visual there are many small children and villagers watching the two being beaten to death. This clip has not been handed over to the Ganjam, Gajapati police or administration. Considering the sensitivity of the case, we have expedited the investigation.”

Earlier, Lochan Behera and five of his accomplices were arrested and their statements were recorded. Based on their statements, police had arrested two others on Wednesday from Gothakeli village. They are Pabitra Behera (25) and Sanatan Behera (24). They had allegedly confessed to arranging wood and kerosene to burn the three bodies, according to police.

Police suspect the involvement of few more villagers in the triple murder, he added.