Bhubaneswar: Two persons were arrested and five minors detained in connection with the murder of a youth during Holi celebrations in Balasore district, police said on Saturday.
The arrested accused have been identified as Hitesh Kumar Dash alias Chotu and Sachin Gochhayat. Both were apprehended by the Balasore Town Police following an investigation into the incident that occurred earlier this week.
According to police, the incident took place on March 4 near the Durga Mandap area of Akatpur while locals were celebrating Holi. The accused were allegedly playing Holi and verbally abusing people in the area. When a youth identified as Saroj tried to intervene and stop them, the accused allegedly became enraged and attacked him with a sharp weapon.
Saroj sustained critical injuries in the attack. Police said the accused later allegedly disposed of his body by throwing it into a nearby canal in an attempt to destroy evidence.
The incident triggered tension in the locality after the body was recovered. On Friday, angry residents staged a road blockade demanding immediate action against those involved in the killing.
Following the protest and subsequent investigation, police arrested the two adult accused on Saturday and detained five minors who were allegedly involved in the incident.
“In this case, two adults have been arrested and forwarded to court. Five minors involved have also been detained, and the weapon used in the crime has been seized,” a police official said.
