Police officers at the murder spot in Balangir. Telegraph picture

Balangir, July 14: Five members of a family were killed because of a family feud today.

Four others injured in the group clash have been admitted to a district hospital. The incident took place at Thapapali village within the limits of Balangir Sadar police station, about 20kms from here. Four persons have been arrested and five women have been detained for questioning in connection with the incident.

A heated argument between Majhi and Thapa families led to the clash. The Majhi family members killed five persons of the Thapa family in a field near the village.

The deceased were identified as Ramel Thapa and his four sons Kapil, Jagadish, Kunu and Madrasi.

A police officer said the Majhi family members, armed with axe and lathis, attacked the Thapa family members.

Karuna Thapa, the lone male survivor in the Thapa family said his father and brothers had gone to the field when the Majhi family members attacked them.

The police have sent the bodies to the district headquarters hospital here for post-mortem.

Inspector in charge of the sadar police station Deepak Ranjan Jena said they had arrested four members —Sadashiva Majhi, Kandha, Sankheswar and Biswanath. Jena said,

“The two families have been at logger heads over use of a gochar in the village. Last year, the Thapa family members allegedly killed Ekadasia Majhi. The Majhis might have killed the Thapa family members to take revenge,” Jena said.