Police investigate the former sarpanch’s murder case in Berhampur. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, April 8: Two persons, who are in police custody, have named a Congress legislator behind the conspiracy to murder former sarpanch and BJD leader Srinivas Rath. On March 9, the BJD leader was attacked with sharp weapons by some goons on motorcycles. Rath, 42, had died on the spot.

“We suspect the involvement of Sanakhemundi MLA Ramesh Jena in the murder of the BJD leader. Two persons accused in the case — Pradip Sethi of Padmanavpur and Kalia Sahu of Gosaninuagaon — have named the Congress MLA and four others,” Berhampur superintendent of police Safin Ahmed told newspersons.

“We are ascertaining the facts,” Ahmed said.

The accused, Pradip Sethi and Kalia Sahu, have also named Bulu Nayak of Dakhinapur, Nepali Rout of Brundabati Nagar in Berhampur, Bulu Patnaik of Berhampur and Prem Chand Panda of Dalua Sahi Berhampur. All the six accused had earlier criminal records.

During interrogation, Sethi told the police that they had stayed at the house of Sanakhemundi MLA Ramesh Jena at Gambhariguda before committing the murder. They left for Ghodahada Dam Square at Digapahandi after MLA Ramesh Jena told them to kill Rath. The MLA had some dispute with Rath.

“At Ghodahada Dam Square, while Rath was coming from Digapahandi, we stopped him and attacked him with sharp weapons,” the police chief quoted Sethi as saying.

The Sanakhemundi MLA was arrested on May 13, 2010, from Vishakapatnam in connection with the murder of Rabi Behera, alias Chicken Rabi. Chicken Rabi was murdered on January 1, 2010, and the legislator was booked as the chief conspirator. He was sent to Berhampur circle jail. At present, he out on bail.