Bhubaneswar: The Bhadrak Police today arrested two persons in connection with the kidnapping and murder of Bhubaneswar-based web channel cameraman Manas Swain. The accused have been identified as Niranjan Sethi and Ranjan Nayak alias Raj. Sethi, was an officer of the Odisha Information Service (OIS) retired as the Director (Technical) of the Information and Public Relation Department in February, this year while Raj is the owner of a shop named Raj Communication located at Khandagiri.
According to the police, Sethi was actively involved in the kidnapping and murder of Swain. “Sethi was physically present at Dayal Ashram in Bhubaneswar where Swain was brutally assaulted and murdered. He also orchestrated Swain’s kidnapping led by prime accused in this case Sarmista Nayak from Chandbali,” said Additional SP, Bhadrak, Jatindra Panda.
During Investigation, it was ascertained that on February 6, Swain was brought to Bhubaneswar and assaulted brutally in a room of Dayal Ashram here. He succumbed to the assault following which the body of the deceased was shifted to Badhi Patna in Ranapur in Nayagarh district and buried in a deserted field to destroy evidence, said Panda.
With the arrest of Sethi and Raj, so far, five persons have been nabbed in this case. “A memory chip which was in the possession of Swain led to his murder. The police is raiding several places to nab the prime accused Sarmista and her associate Jhuna Bhoi who are on the run. Besides, efforts are on to locate the memory chip,” the Additional SP added.
The accused have been booked under Sections 363/364/302/465/471/201/34 of the Indian Penal Code and forwarded to the court. The other three arrested in this case are Bibek Nayak and Bhagyadhar Nayak of Khandagiri, and Krushna Chandra Nayak. Sarmista had allegedly hired them under the directions of Sethi to eliminate Swain and dispose of his body, reports added.
“Further investigation is underway and steps are on to apprehend the others in this case at earliest,” Bhadrak police stated.
