Bhubaneswar: Khordha police on Monday arrested four men in connection with the murder of businessman Basudeb Parida in Jamusahi village under Begunia police station in Khordha district.
The accused have been identified as Ajay Bhujbal (34), Gyanranjan Pradhan (34), Manas Subudhi (33), and Kartik Bhujbal (36), all residents of Gayabandha village under Jankia police station.
According to police, the incident took place on the evening of January 19, when Parida was ambushed and shot dead on the Jamusahi-Dalak road. Following the attack, his wife, Salila Parida, lodged a complaint at Begunia police station, stating that her husband had received threats from local rivals earlier in the day. The FIR, registered as Case No. 34/26, revealed that the assailants fired three rounds, hitting Parida in the head, ear, and chest before fleeing the scene. Police recovered a bullet and Parida’s scooter from the spot.
Khordha Superintendent of Police Vivekanand Sharma said the murder was linked to business rivalries in the mining sector. “The attack was premeditated, and arrests were made based on leads from the crime scene and witness accounts,” he added.
The accused were traced and arrested while hiding in a forest in Gayabandha village after intensive raids by three specialised police teams. Two fired cartridges and two vehicles were seized from the accused, while the firearm used in the crime is yet to be recovered.
Investigations revealed that both the victim and the accused had prior criminal records. Parida had nine pending cases across various police stations, while the accused had three to four cases each, highlighting a history of feuds and rivalries.
The police have said the investigation is ongoing, and they are continuing the search for the weapon used in the killing.
