Bhubaneswar: In a shocking case of fratricide, Balangir police on Saturday arrested eight people, including the elder brother of the victim, who is alleged to be the mastermind, in connection with the murder of his younger brother, Natraj Senapati, near Tusura’s Tel River under Tusura police station in Balangir district.
The body of Natraj Senapati was discovered on January 2, 2026. Following the recovery, Senapati’s brother, Naba Senapati, lodged a case of unnatural death, prompting a post-mortem and forensic investigation. The inquiry revealed that the death was a planned murder.
According to Balangir SP Abilash G, Naba Senapati, the main accused and alleged mastermind, had reportedly hired six contract killers from the Deogaon and Saintala areas to execute the murder. Natraj’s close friend, Khetra, was also among those arrested and is said to have assisted in planning the crime.
The SP stated that the accused Khetra called Natraj Senapati to the river under the pretext of a meeting. The original plan was to stage an accident using a vehicle, but this did not occur, as the deceased was sitting on a bridge pillar. In this incident, the accused allegedly pushed him into the river from the bridge. Initial examination of the injuries suggested a fall, but further investigation confirmed the involvement of the accused.
Balangir SP further stated that the murder was motivated by a property dispute. Naba Senapati allegedly paid an advance of Rs 60,000 to Khetra, who shared it with the six hired killers through an online UPI transaction. A further payment of Rs 2 lakh was planned as part of the deal. The vehicle intended for the hit-and-run has been seized.
“Based on the investigation, all eight accused were directly involved in the crime,” said Balangir Superintendent of Police Abilash G while briefing the media.
