Berhampur, March 18: A constable of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) was murdered in a hotel at Bhanjanagar by 10 armed youths.

Police sources said the deceased, who was posted in Koraput, had come to his native place reportedly to mediate between two rival groups dealing with liquor. The 35-year-old constable was identified as Tofan Bishoyi, who lived in the Landei Sahi area at Bhanjanagar, 80 kilometres from here. Police have detained a few persons in connection with the incident.

Sources said that Tofan had an altercation with a group of people outside a country liquor shop near the Bhanjanagar Bus Stand about 8pm on Thursday. “Tofan returned to his hotel on his bike. After a few minutes, 10 armed youths wearing masks arrived on bikes and barged into the hotel. They fired five rounds of bullets and hurled bombs,” Bulu, the hotel owner, said.

The killers left the place brandishing their weapons and threatening people not to open their mouth. “The murder is a fallout of the feud between people involved in liquor trade in the district. The police have conducted raids at different places and have detained some persons in this connection. The constable was on leave and came here to mediate between two rival groups. We have identified most of the culprits and will arrest them soon,” sub-divisional police officer of Bhanjanagar Subash Jamadar said.