Bhubaneswar, July 28: Luck ran out for Rajendra Barik, the prime suspect in the murder of a 35-year-old contractor.

Barik was arrested last night from Nayagarh district in connection with the murder of Dillip Naik on June 18.

Interrogation of the 47-year-old accused revealed that he used to hire autorickshaws and sleep in them to evade arrest. A country-made pistol and two live bullets were also seized from him.

Police commissioner R.P. Sharma said after committing the murder, the accused fled to Puri with Rs 60,000 in cash.

"He first stayed in an isolated lodge near Puri sea beach and shaved off his beard and shortened his hair," said Sharma.

"Barik used to hire autorickshaws and travel to places adjoining Puri including Konark, Delang, Kanas, Satapada and Brahmagiri. During this period, he used to spend nights sleeping in autorickshaws," said Sharma.

During this period, he had used four mobile phones along with half dozen SIM cards. He used to dispose of the mobile phones to keep police at bay. However, his luck finally ran out when he moved to his cousin's house at Khandapada in Nayagarh district.

"He moved to his cousin's house six days back, suspecting cops were keeping a track of him in Puri. Following a tip-off, the police raided the house but did not find Barik there. The police team later nabbed him from the backyard of the house where he was hiding," said a police official.

Earlier, police have arrested Upendra, the elder brother of Barik from Balanga in Puri district while he was hiding in a betel vineyard. Two other associates of Barik, Sarat Kumar Samantray, 50, and Surya Kanta Samantray, 20, had also been arrested.

A group of around 25 persons had attacked Naik on the fateful day when he had gone to a construction site near the AIIMS hospital for reconciliation with Barik. Sources said the owner of the land had initially awarded the housing project to Barik. But Barik stopped work due to issues related to bill payments. The project was then awarded to one Sambhu under whom Naik was working.

Police also gave a clean chit to the builder in the case. " The investigation so far has not revealed any involvement of the private builder in the crime. We will bring Barik on remand for further investigations," said the police official.