Bhubaneswar, Aug. 13: Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police today detained two persons in connection with the murder of builder Krushna Chandra Nayak near IRC Village sub-post office yesterday.

Police officials said they were certain of the involvement one of the detainees in the shooting.

“We suspect that contract killers had been hired to murder Nayak. We are trying to trace them,” said a police official.

Dhananjay Nayak, son of the deceased builder, today alleged that a few builders and land brokers had hired contract killers to murder his father.

“We have been receiving threat messages after the murder of my father. I have told the police about this. My family members are feeling unsafe,” said Dhananjay.

Family members of the deceased said rivals of Krushna had had him killed over a land dispute.

“My father had bought a plot in Nayapalli last year. The cost of the plot was Rs 80 lakh, and my father had paid an advance of Rs 20 lakh. But later, we found that the plot was fraudulently sold to us. He had asked for repayment of the advance. That’s why the broker who facilitated the deal decided to have my father killed,” alleged Dhananjay.

The 56-year-old builder was shot dead by three bike-borne persons yesterday while he was returning home from his office. Krushna, who suffered three bullet injuries in the chest and shoulder, was declared dead at a private hospital.

Police officials said Krushna and his two sons were involved in a number of cases, including attempt to murder and extortion. The trio had allegedly hacked to death one Rajesh Jena, 22, of Nayapalli on October 18 last year.

They had murdered Jena because he was a witness in a firing incident involving Krushna and his sons that took place in March 2011. The trio were also allegedly involved in the murder of a painter near the Cesu office at Nayapalli in June last year. Krushna and his sons were released on bail last month in one of the murder cases.

Residents of posh Nayapalli, on the other hand, demanded security in the area. “There has been a spurt in criminal activities in our locality. Goons are confidently opening fire even in the daytime. We no longer feel secure,” said Harish Bal, a Nayapalli resident.