Berhampur, Dec. 31: Rambha police today arrested four accused, including a sarpanch, in the sensational murder of Pranati Das, a 30-year-old woman PDS dealer.

Das was stabbed and set on fire near Panthanivas at Rambha in Ganjam yesterday.

Narrating the sequence of events that led to the murder yesterday, sub-divisional police officer Alekh Chandra Pahi said: “Pranati was first stabbed by three goons on her way back home. She suffered injuries on her left hand while trying to protect herself from them. The goons then set her afire after pouring petrol on her.

She was rescued by local people, who sent her to MKCG Medical College and Hospital here. But she had to be shifted to a hospital in Visakhapatnam later as her condition worsened. She succumbed to injuries there this morning. “The attack was the fallout of an old enmity,” said the police officer. Police superintendent Ashish Kumar Singh said: “We have arrested four accused, while efforts are on to nab others who are involved. Steps will be taken for expeditious trial of the case.”

The arrested persons are sarpanch of Sana Ramchandrapur panchayat Manas Ranjan Nahak and his three associates Sudhir Nahak, Bilas Nahak and Kedar Nahak. Another accused, Kishore Nahak, is on the run.

In her dying statement, Pranati said Bilas and Kedar had earlier threatened to kill her. In another development, State Women’s Commission chairperson Lopamudra Buxi Patra today sought details of the incident from the district collector and the police superintendent.