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| Residents burn tyres in Cuttack to protest against the murder of Seikh Bazaar Puja Committee secretary Keshab Behera on Sunday. Picture by Badrika Nath Das |
Cuttack, July 7: Two murders — one near the Seikh Bazaar puja mandap and the other at Kalyan Nagar — around the same time here today have raised questions about the law and order situation in the city.
Killed in the twin strikes are secretary of Seikh Bazaar Puja Committee Keshab Chandra Behera, 40, and 25-year-old businessman Mahesh Jena.
Police suspect past rivalry to be the reason behind the murders, both of which took place around 8am.
Four motorcycle-borne goons chased and shot Keshab, while he was returning home on his two-wheeler.
Keshab took five bullets in his chest, back and thighs and was rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital. He was later shifted to Ashwini Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.
It is suspected that Keshab was killed over the auction of shops at Chandi Mandir, which the associates of a gangster called Tito wanted to gain hold of.
Earlier, Tito, with the help of some youths of Seikh Bazaar, had tried to win the auction for shops inside Chandi Mandir. Keshab had opposed the move.
Keshab was elected secretary of Seikh Bazaar Puja Committee for the third time in a row on July 9. He was also the president of Cuttack Mahanagar Yadav Mahasabha, which has condemned his killing.
His family members, however, said they were not aware of his rivalry with anyone. “My brother had no enmity with anyone and always helped those in need. We have no information about him getting threats from anyone,” said his brother Kishore.
Kishore said his brother had named two youths of Seikh Bazaar before succumbing to injuries.
A mob burnt tyres near Chandi Mandir Square and staged a road blockade following Keshab’s murder. They also ransacked some shops near Mission Road.
“Law and order in Cuttack has worsened. The murders show that the police have failed to ensure the safety and security of the people,” said Siddhant Rout, a resident of Buxi Bazaar.
Police commissioner Sunil Roy, who visited Seikh Bazaar following the incident, said his men were on the job. “Past rivalry is the prime reason for the murders,” he said.
“The police must arrest the culprits at the earliest. If they fail, we will be forced to launch an agitation,” said Cuttack District Yadav Mahasabha president Pradeep Behera.
Hours after the incident, more than 25 goons on motorcycles showed blatant disregard for the police and hurled crude bombs to terrorise people at Rovers Street near Seikh Bazaar. They also ransacked a tea stall and fled from the spot. Police suspect the bombings could be linked to Keshab’s murder.
In the second incident, Postal Colony resident and young entrepreneur Mahesh Jena was allegedly hacked to death over past enmity in Kalyan Nagar.
Madhupatna police said Sishir Sahu, a resident of Andarpur, had been arrested in connection with the murder.
“My brother had picked up a quarrel with some men a few days ago. Though we had lodged a police complaint, my family had later agreed to a compromise,” said Rajesh.
“My brother was on his way to work when Sishir attacked him with a sharp weapon. We rushed him to the hospital, but he died on the way,” he said.
The Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police face an uphill task to tackle crime here. On June 1, bus owner Amarendra Rout, 35, was shot dead near Palamandap, while goons fired at the brother of a medicine shop owner at Mangalabag on May 30. Another bus owner was shot dead on Link Road on January 3.