Cuttack, June 4: Personal enmity and business rivalry were behind the killing of bus owner Amarendra Rout, 35, who was shot dead near Palamandap here last week, police said.

The deceased’s cousin brother is allegedly the main culprit.

The police have arrested three persons and are looking for two more accomplices, deputy commissioner of police Bidyut lata Nayak said today. The accused were identified as Sarjua alias Santosh Rout, 22, Lipua alias Jyotiranjan Barik, 25, and Ishwar Rout, 34, of Shankarpur.

Ishwar, who has a criminal antecedent, had allegedly conspired to kill his cousin Amarendra to avenge his elder brother Jaydev Rout’s murder.

Amarendra was stated to be a witness to Jaydev being shot dead near Link Road over bus transport rivalry on January 3. Madhupatna police arrested three persons in the Jaydev murder case.

Nayak said Ishwar had hatched the conspiracy with other associates to kill Amarendra as they suspected his involvement in Jaydev’s murder.

“So far, the investigation revealed that Amarendra was killed over ongoing family and business related rivalry while three persons have been arrested in this connection,” said Nayak.

The police said Ishwar alias Babu, who is physically challenged, was arrested in connection with the murder of a criminal Narendra Swain alias Nuria in 2007. Apart from this, four cases have been pending against Ishwar at Madhupatna and other police stations in the city.

Owing to his physical deformity, Ishwar had sought assistance from other associates to closely monitor the activities of Amarendra.

The police said both Santosh, Jyotiranjan along with two other unidentified criminals had intercepted Amarendra and fired two rounds of bullets at him near Palamandap on June 1. Amarendra, who had sustained two bullet injuries, was immediately taken to SCB hospital, but declared brought dead there.

So far, police investigation has revealed that no criminal case is pending against Santosh and Jyotiranjan.

“We are investigating the case taking into account other possible angles. However, adequate security measures have been taken at Badambadi and nearby localities to maintain law and order,” Nayak said.