Berhampur, June 12: Two persons, including a BJD sarpanch, were murdered by six unidentified persons at Bhanja Nagar here last night. The killers, who came riding on three motorcycles, hurled bombs at the sarpanch and opened fire at his associate who was trying to escape from the spot.

Tilak Bishoyi, sarpanch of Khairaputi in Gangapur, died on the spot, while his associate Pitabas Jena died on his way to MKCG Medical College and Hospital.

“We have identified the killers,” said Subash Jamadar, sub-divisional police officer of Bhanja Nagar.

“The murder is a fallout of a previous enmity between the sarpanch and some people. It is not a political murder,” he said, claiming that all the entry and exit points of the area had been sealed.

Bishoyi was known as a firebrand BJD leader.

Last year, Simanchal Sahu, husband of a former sarpanch of Khairaputi, was also killed by unknown persons. Arun Jena, who unsuccessfully contested for a zilla parishad seat, was also killed by unknown persons two years ago.

Last night, the goons attacked the sarpanch when he came out of LIC Colony along with Jena on a motorcycle after consulting a doctor.

They had gone to meet the doctor to enquire about the health of Bishoyi’s brother. The killers seemed to have had prior information about the movements of the sarpanch and had waited outside the colony. As Bishoyi and Jena came out of the doctor’s chamber, the goons hurled bombs at them.

While Bishoyi died on the spot, Jena, who had sustained injuries in the blast, tried to escape. However, the goons fired five shots at him before fleeing the spot on their motorcycles.

This evening, the Bhanja Nagar police have arrested Chaka Behera and Tila Bhuyan from Khairaputi in connection with the incident. The police have also seized a motorcycle without any numberplate from Kanteipalli-Sorada Road. “We are trying to arrest other persons involved in the murder,” said Jamadar.