Bhadrak: The prime accused in cameraman Manas Swain kidnapping and murder case, Sarmistha Rout was arrested on Monday. A joint team of the Crime Branch and Bhadrak police arrested Sarmista today afternoon from Nalanga village in Bhadrak tehsil of the district.
Joint teams of Bhadrak Police and Crime Branch have arrested the principal accused Sarmistha Rout and her associate Jhuna Bhoi today from Nalanga area of Bhadrak district, the police said.
“Both the accused persons will be produced in the Court of JMFC Chandbali today. Crime Branch will apply for remand of ten days of the above two accused persons along with five more accused persons arrested earlier,” the Crime Branch stated.
Sarmistha was on the run for more than one month after the kidnapping and murder of Swain, a former employee of Sampurna magazine and web channel hogged headlines. The Crime Branch had set up a dedicated team which was pressed into searching Sarmistha and her associate Jhuna.
Sarmistha, who operated the Sampurna magazine and web channel had allegedly orchestrated the kidnapping, murder and subsequently disposal of the body of Swain over a memory chip which was in possession of the latter.
Earlier, six persons have been arrested in this case including ex-OIS officer Niranjan Sethi and Sarmistha’s brother Parameswar Rout. With this the arresstees tally in this case reached eight. According to sources, the exact reason behind eliminating Swain will come to the fore after Sarmistha is examined by the police. Apart from this, the Crime Branch is very likely to recover cruical evidence in connection with the heinous crime.
