The three persons arrested in the Rabi Lenka murder case in police custody in Cuttack on Friday. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Aug. 22: Cuttack’s Malgodown police today arrested three persons for their alleged involvement in the killing of Rabi Narayan Lenka, joint secretary of the College Square Puja Committee, on August 12.

The accused were identified as Rakesh Sethy, 30, Partha Sarathi Das, 32, and Chaturbhuja Das, 31. The police are looking for three others, including the alleged mastermind of the crime, Bikash Choudhry.

One pistol, two rounds of live bullet and a motorcycle were recovered from Sethy, who had opened fire at the victim. Various cases related to robbery and dacoity are also registered against Sethy at various police stations in Jagatsinghpur district.

Rabi was shot dead while he was standing near Sairam hotel at College Square around 9pm on August 12. He had suffered four bullet wounds and was taken to SCB Medical College and Hospital where he was declared dead.

Addressing a news conference, police commissioner R.P. Sharma today said that during investigation it had been found that the deceased, Rabi Narayan Lenka, had previous rivalry with the mastermind, Bikash Choudhry, who was staying near his house at Patra Sahi in Cuttack.

Bikash and one of his other associates, Bibekananda Sahu, who has criminal antecedents, had earlier demanded an extortion of Rs 1 lakh from one of Rabi’s friend for constructing a house at College Square. Police sources said that over a dozen cases were pending against Sahu, who is absconding after the incident. Sharma said Bikash, along with another accused, Sethy, had fired at Rabi from a close range and escaped from the spot. The second firearm used in the crime is yet to be recovered.

The police said a special squad had been formed to nab Bikash and two others in connection with the murder case.

Couple arrested

Balasore police today arrested a woman and her husband for allegedly killing a three-and-a-half-year-old son of their uncle for property at Remuna.

The police said the woman, Sonali Behera, 22, and her husband Sanjay, 26, suspected that her father might transfer his property in the name of the deceased, who happened to be the son of his brother.

The victim, Sachikanta, of Raghunathpur village at Remuna had been missing since August 13. His body was found on Thursday.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the accused persons had killed the minor boy due to greed for property. Ganeswar Behera and Madhabananda Behera, the father of Sonali and Sachikanta, respectively, are two brothers.

As Ganeswar has no male child, he was fond of his nephew Sachikanta. Sonali, therefore, feared that her father might give his landed property to Sachikanta.

Nilgiri sub-divisional police officer S.R. Mohapatra said: “The couple strangulated him to death and threw his body in a pond near Kelapada, surrounded by bamboo trees. Yesterday, his body, which bore injury marks around neck, was found floating in the pond.”

Villagers had put up roadblock between Baliapal and Durgadevi, accusing the police of inaction and stating that the boy’s parents lodged a police complaint the day the boy had gone missing.

Senior officers assured the agitators of action and announced an ex gratia of Rs 10,000 for the family.