Bhubaneswar, Nov. 22: The mystery over the severed head, found near the Daya river on November 4, was resolved today with police identifying the deceased and arresting two persons in connection with the murder.

The deceased, Krutibas Parija alias Sonu, 25, a moneylender from Khandagiri, had been missing since November 2. His body was cut into around hundred pieces, wrapped in polythene packets, and dumped at various places.

The two accused, Sanjay Khuntia, 23, and Bharat Sahu, 22, hail from Khandagiri and were Sonu’s friends. Another accused, Sagar Prusty, 24, is absconding. The police said the three hatched the murder plot when Sonu demanded Rs 2 lakh that Sanjay had taken from him as a loan six months ago.

“Sonu, who was involved in the money lending business, had given Rs 2 lakh as loan to Sanjay. When Sonu began demanding his money, Sanjay, along with the other accused, plotted the murder,” said police commissioner R.P. Sharma.

On November 2, Sanjay called Sonu to one of his cousin’s house at Dumduma housing board colony assuring him of repaying his money. However, when Sonu reached the place, Bharat, who was already present there, along with the two other accused, killed him with a sharp weapon.

“They dragged the body to the bathroom, and Sanjay sliced off Sonu’s neck with a knife. They put the body on the toilet pan and opened the tap to ensure that the blood was washed into it,” said Sharma.

Later, the two accused took away Sonu’s scooter, parked it near Cuttack railway station and returned to Bhubaneswar.

The trio also took Sonu’s mobile phones to create the impression that the deceased had gone missing from Cuttack.

“They had planned the murder one month ago. Accordingly, Sagar had brought a SIM card and a new mobile phone on October 31 to make calls only to Sonu. They also left the scooter in Cuttack to divert police attention,” said a police official. The accused had packed the body parts in 14 polythene bags.