Keonjhar: Police cracked a suspected case of honour killing with the arrest of two persons, who had allegedly perpetrated the crime seven months ago.

Two persons, who had smothered Kamala Lochan Banara, 25, to death at Damuhating village in Barbil police limits, have been arrested. "It appears to be a case of honour killing. The arrested duo have confessed to the crime. Two others, who were also involved in the murder, are still at large. Search is on to nab them at the earliest," said Barbil police station inspector Jagannath Mallick.

The two arrested - Rajendra Mahakud, 24, and Rajendra Barik, 27, - booked under the Indian Penal Code section 302 (murder) and other relevant sections, were on Saturday remanded in judicial custody.

On January 2, 2018, Banara was murdered near a pump house, about 1km away from the house, from where four persons had kidnapped him. After smothering him to death, they had stashed the body in a gunny ban and dumped it in a nearby water body. Two days later, local people had retrieved the bloated and decomposed body, the police said.

The police had initially faced problems in asserting the motive behind the crime. The victim had good relations with his neighbours and had apparently no past enmity with one. It was only later that the police got a tip and managed to unravel the case. Kamal was in love with the sister of one of assailants, and he had to pay with his life for that.

"The arrest of two absconding killers will throw further light on the crime. A special squad has been formed to arrest them," said a police officer.