Cuttack, Oct. 12: City police today claimed that family feud over property led to the murder of a 19-year-old girl in Cuttack last night.

The cousin of Plus Three second-year student of Netaji Subhas Bose Memorial City College Sunita Prusty gunned down the teenager at her Pithapur Tarachandpatna residence around 10.45pm yesterday.

After conducting preliminary investigations, the police said that Sunita’s cousin Sunil Prusty, along with three other persons, went to her home and fired at her. Sunita was rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital where she succumbed to injuries.

“It has been found that ongoing dispute among family members was the prime reason for the murder. We are still investigating the matter and the culprits will be arrested soon,” said deputy commissioner of police S. Praveen Kumar.

A forensic team today visited the house where Sunita was shot. The team collected evidences from the spot.

“The girl had sustained three bullet injuries to her chest and stomach and was in a critical condition when her relatives brought her here. Despite our best efforts, she died around 12.15am,” said the attending doctor at SCB Medical College and Hospital.

The police said for the last couple of years, there had been dispute between Sunita’s father Digambar Prusty, 44, and his elder brother Hrusikesh Prusty over property at three places in the city.

On August 26, Digambar was attacked by a few goons allegedly at the behest of Hrusikesh. A complaint was also lodged in this regard with Purighat police.

Yesterday, the police had picked up Hrusikesh in connection with the incident. Later, his son Sunil, along with three of his friends, came to Sunita’s house and fired three rounds of bullets at her.