Sambalpur: Police have arrested six persons for allegedly murdering a history-sheeter near the Hirakud Substation under Hirakud police station limits in Sambalpur district on Monday evening.
The arrested persons were identified as Saini Behera (33), Pratap Behera (24), Jaynarayan Mishra (22), Raj Barik alias Gudu (22), Sridhara Prasad (25), and Samir Behera (21), all residents of the jurisdiction of Hirakud police station in Sambalpur district.
The deceased, identified as Kalu Bahadur (28) of Gandhi Nagar Para in Sambalpur, was attacked with sharp weapons by a group of six assailants while he and his friend Satya Ranjan Dhal were travelling on a motorcycle near the WESCO office around 7.10 pm.
According to the police, Bahadur died on the spot, while Dhal sustained serious injuries and is undergoing treatment at Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla.
Following a complaint lodged by the victim’s younger brother Pintu Bahadur, police registered a case (Hirakud PS Case No. 210/2025). Acting on the directives of the IG and SP, two special teams were formed to investigate the case. Forensic experts examined the scene and CCTV footage was collected.
“Six accused persons have been identified and arrested. The murder appears to be an act of revenge over an old enmity. In 2019, Kalu Bahadur had killed Banti Behera, brother of one of the accused, Saini Behera,” said Sambalpur Additional SP Ajay Kumar Mishra while briefing reporters.
Mishra added that Bahadur had over 20 criminal cases against him, including charges of murder, attempt to murder, and kidnapping.
Weapons used in the crime — including a sword, knife, and stones — have been recovered from the accused.
Further investigation is underway, police said.
