Puri: In a major breakthrough in the murder of a minor boy in Chilika under Krushnaprasad police limits, police have arrested 18 accused persons, including the prime accused, identified as Ganesh Das.
According to Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) Prateek Singh, all 18 accused are residents of Chandraput village in Khordha district. The arrests were made by Krushnaprasad police in connection with the incident that took place on August 11.
Going by case history, one minor boy identified as Omm Shikari was killed while two others sustained injuries in the incident. Police have seized three boats and a wooden plank allegedly used in the crime from the accused.
Police subsequently launched an immediate and intensive investigation under the direct supervision of the Superintendent of Police.
The case was first registered as kidnapping with attempt to murder. During the course of investigation, it was reclassified as dacoity with murder. Given the seriousness of the crime and the involvement of an inter-district gang of prawn pirates, multiple teams were formed under the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Puri Sadar, and the IIC of Krushnaprasad police station. The teams were deployed across Puri, Ganjam and Khordha districts.
Acting on specific intelligence and after sustained efforts, the teams carried out simultaneous raids at several locations. Within 48 hours of the FIR being registered, 18 accused persons were arrested.
SP said that further legal action will be taken as per law. The arrested persons are being interrogated to establish the exact sequence of events, individual roles, and the circumstances that led to the death of the minor boy.
According to police, the incident took place on August 10 between 6 PM and 7 pm. A group of thieves from Chandraput village under Balugaon Police Station, Khordha district, arrived at the fishing area of Kumarpur village under Ramalenka GP, Krushnaprasad PS. They came armed with deadly weapons to attack anyone who resisted their piracy.
While stealing prawns from a khanda owned by complainant Chinmay Behera of Kumarpur village, the accused — identified as Ganesh, Kanha, Mithun, Rubesh and Kalu — assaulted the complainant, his brother, and minor boy Om Sikari.
The complainant and his brother managed to escape, but the minor boy died of his injuries. His body was recovered from the spot nearly 20 hours after the incident.
