File picture of the crime scene

Sonepur, Sept. 24: Sonepur police today arrested another accused in connection with the high-profile murder of Dr Durbadal Mishra, the additional district medical officer at the headquarters hospital, here.

The prime accused, Pratyush Panda alias Bablu, however, continues to be on the run.

The arrested youth was identified as Deepak Sahu, 19, of Badbazar. Yesterday, the police arrested Ashok Sahu, 25, of Babupali on the outskirts of Sonepur. The police said they would nab the other accused shortly.

Deepak Sahu admitted his role in the murder plot. He briefed the media by saying: “I accompanied Ashok and Pratyush to the spot. They killed the doctor. I ran away from the crime scene,” Deepak said.

Further investigation by the police has revealed that the killers had consumed alcohol before committing the crime. They hatched their plan in a butcher shop. The shop owner has also become a witness.

The police have also questioned a cigarette shop owner from where the accused regularly purchased pan and cigarettes.

Sonepur superintendent of police Sara Sharma said she had examined the case from all angles. “It is possibly a revenge killing. According to Ashok Sahu, the deceased doctor used to exploit his patients. He used to charge exorbitant rates for medicines that were supplied free of cost by the hospital,” she said.

“They committed the crime in an inebriated state. They first approached the doctor for a chat, and after gaining his confidence, they took him to an isolated stretch and stabbed him to death,” she said.

Rattled by the incident, a delegation of doctors and health workers of the headquarters hospital, led by the chief district medical officer Dr Sarat Chandra Majhi, today met and sought beefing up of security at the medical facility.

Sources said some people entered the hospital compound last night and threatened the staff members of the hospital. A delegation from the Sonepur District Bar Association, led by senior lawyer Sarbeswar Purohit, also met the police and discussed about the deteriorating law and order situation in Sonepur.