Bhubaneswar, Oct. 18: Nayapalli police today detained two persons in connection with the murder of a 22-year-old youth in the N-3 area of IRC village here last night.

The police are looking for a builder and his two sons, who are alleged to have attacked the deceased, Rajesh Jena, with a sword following an argument.

A police officer said the builder, Krishna Chandra Nayak, and his two sons, Mrutyunjay Nayak and Dhananjay Nayak, had been arrested several times in the past for their involvement in shooting and extortion cases.

Rajesh, a resident of Police Colony at Nayapalli, was talking to his friend, Santosh Behera, at N-3, when Mrutyunjay and Dhananjay, along with one Rudra, attacked him with a sword. Rajesh suffered injuries on his head and neck.

Santosh, an eyewitness, said the assailants had a heated argument with Rajesh around 9pm. The Nayak brothers went back home. Later, they came with a sword and attacked Rajesh.

Rakesh Jena, brother of the deceased and a small-time trader, said he was unaware of his brother’s activities and did not know why he was attacked. “Around 9.30pm, I came to know that my brother had been attacked and I rushed to hospital,” said Rakesh.

Nayapalli police said the accused had been identified and raids were on to arrest the culprits. “The accused father and sons had been arrested in several incidents in the past. Even the deceased had earlier been arrested in a theft case. We suspect that ego clash between them had led to an exchange of words, which could have led to the attack,” said inspector in charge of Nayapalli police station Anup Kanungo.