Police at the murder site. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Jan. 14: Two cousins were found murdered in the city this morning.

City police recovered the bodies of Biswanath Maharana (40) and Sanjaya Maharana (27). Biswanath’s head had been severed from his body, which was found from the railway line near Ankuli Nigam Nagar. The severed head was found from another spot about 150 metre away.

Sanjay’s body was recovered near Guribandha, behind the LIC office at Khodasingi.

Police also found a mobile phone, a charger, some pouches of liquor and the key of Biswanath’s bike from near his body. Sanjay, son of Dinabandhu Maharana, happens to Biswanath’s maternal uncle. “My son often visits Biswanath’s house. He was with Biswanath for the past two days. Sanjay telephoned me late last night. He said he was at Engineering School Square with Biswanath. I waited for him till morning but in vain,” said Dinabandhu.

Sanjay was supposed to leave for Coimbatore for a job today, he said.

“We have seized both the bodies and sent them for post-mortem at MKCG Medical College and Hospital. We will start our investigation from Biswanath’s house,” said Sarat Mahapatra, sub-divisional police officer, Berhampur. Berhampur superintendent of police, Safin Ahmed K, who is monitoring the investigation, visited the spot in the morning. Investigation is on and a sniffer dog has been pressed into service.

In another incident, three cops — Tukuna Sethi (APR constable), Chetananda Rout (SPO) and Susant Kumar Sahu (home guard) — were injured when some criminals hurled bombs at them last night.

The criminals attacked the 10-member police team when the team was trying to nab dreaded criminal Shankar Das and his associate Kankada Das in Ainabandha Sahi. Shankar and Kankada escaped, but police managed to nab three criminals who are the supporters of Shankar, sources said.

The three injured cops have been admitted to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital here for treatment.