File picture of Ekan Das

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 24: The Pipili police claimed to have solved stuntman Ekan Das murder case with the arrest of five persons today from Pubasasan village near Uttara on the outskirts of the capital city. The stuntman’s body was found lying in bushes near a private engineering college on NH-203 last month.

Police said the accused, who had been arrested today, were identified as Ranjit Behera alias Bana (28), Deepak Behera (25), Ram Mallick (26), Mitu Pradhan (25) and Kailash Bhoi (55). Ekan, a stuntman, also hailed from Pubasasan village. However, two other accused in the case are still absconding.

Police have booked the arrested accused under Sections 302 (murder) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. All were forwarded to court. The police, however, are yet to seize the weapons of offence.

Police said that the old rivalry was the reason behind the murder. “Ekan had made several enemies who were on the lookout for him. He fell victim to them last month,” said Puri superintendent of police Sanjay Kumar.

Police said Ranjit had a major fight with Ekan in 2006. Police had registered cases against both of them.

Moreover, the hotel that Ekan used to run near the KEC square had been burgled about four months ago. Acting on his complaint, police had arrested two persons, among whom was the younger son of Kailash, one of the accused. “Ekan was under pressure also from the family members of the accused to withdraw the case, but he did not listen to it,” said Amulya Champatiray, inspector in-charge of Pipili police station, adding that the accused said Ekan had demanded money to withdraw the case.

Ekan’s rivals also set the stuntman’s hotel on fire. One person was arrested in this case. “But Ekan had named all his rivals as accused in the case which further embittered his relations with them,” said a police officer.

The prime accused Ranjit had hatched the conspiracy to eliminate Ekan in league with others. They attacked him while he was returning to his house at Ekchalia village around 11.30pm on November 25. After killing Ekan, they left his motorcycle about 15 metres from the spot.

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 24: The Pipili police claimed to have solved stuntman Ekan Das murder case with the arrest of five persons today from Pubasasan village near Uttara on the outskirts of the capital city. The body of Ekan, 30, was found lying in bushes close to a private engineering college on the national Highway 203.

Police said accused who were arrested today have been identified as Ranjit Behera alias Bana (28), Deepak Behera (25), Ram Mallick (26), Mitu Pradhan (25) and Kailash Bhoi (55). Ekan,a popular stuntsman, also hailed from Pubasasan village. However, two other accused in the case are still absconding.

Police have booked the arrested accused under sections 302 (murder) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of Indian Penal Code. All were forwarded to the court. The police, though, are yet to seize the weapons of offence.

Police said that the old rivalry was the reason behind the sensational murder. “ Ekan had made several enemies who were on the lookout for him. He fell victim to them last month,” said Sanjay Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Puri.

Police said one of the accused Ranjit had a major fight with Ekan in 2006. Both had sustained injuries in the fight. Police had registered cases against both of them.

Besides, the hotel that Ekan ran near the KEC square had been burgled about four months ago. Acting on his complaint police had arrested two persons, among whom was the younger son of Kailash,one of the accused in the case. “ Ekan was under pressure also from the family members of the accused to withdraw the case but he did not oblige,” said Amulya Champatiray, Inspector In Charge of Pipili police station adding that during interrogation the accused claimed that Ekan had demanded money to withdraw the case.

Close on the heels of burglary, Ekan’s hotel had been set on fire by his rivals. One person was arrested in this case,too. “But Ekan had named all his rivals as accused in the case which further embittered his relations with them,” said a police officer.

His rivals were looking for an opportunity to settle scores. The prime accused Ranjit had hatched the conspiracy to eliminate the stuntman in league with others. They attacked him while he was returning to his house at Ekchalia village around 11.30 p.m. on November 25. After killing Ekan they left his motorcycle about 15 meters from the spot.