Kendrapara: The murder of an auto driver at Pattamundai in the district on March 13 was an honour killing, police said and arrested four persons in this connection on Thursday.

Sources said the victim was in love with the assailants' sister. The two accused was assisted in the murder allegedly by two other fellow villagers.

The auto driver, Rashmi Ranjan Das, 28, was murdered near an orchard at Balabhdrapur village on Tuesday. The auto-rickshaw, which he used to drive, was lying about 100 feet away from the spot of the crime. Das had left home with the auto on Tuesday noon and did not return home. His family members were shocked to find him dead next morning.

Four accused persons arrested in connection with the murder are Kanhu Charan Sahu, Harekrushna Sahu, Nikunja Behari Barik and Rabindra Behera.

Das had fallen in love with the younger sister of Kanhu and Harekrushna. The Sahus had stubbornly opposed the affair and threatened Das to mend his way or face dire consequences.

"Despite warning, they went on with the affair. This provoked the sibling duo to murder Das," said sub-divisional police officer Uma Shankar Moharana.

The assailants intercepted Das on Tuesday evening when he was returning home. They invited him for liquor at the nearby orchard. As Das was drunk, the assailants slip his throat by a razor blade. Since they gagged his mouth, nobody could hear his scream. After he bled to death, they fled the spot of crime, the police said.

"We have launched a searrch to nab two more accused who are on the run," said a police officer.