In a significant breakthrough, the Bhubaneswar police have arrested five individuals from Gujarat in connection with the brutal murder of a 32-year-old man in Nayapalli last month. The arrests were made on Friday, bringing the total number of apprehended suspects in the case to seven, including one previously held adult and a detained juvenile.
The Fatal Assault and Investigation
The victim, identified as Jitendra Das, a married daily wage labourer, was subjected to a vicious attack on the evening of December 26, 2025. He succumbed to his grievous injuries on January 1, 2026. Initially, an assault case was registered at the Nayapalli police station on December 27. Following Das's death, the case was upgraded to a murder investigation.
Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh stated that the motive behind the crime was a "triangular love story". According to police sources, Das had allegedly tried to woo a 17-year-old girl. Another youth, who was close to the girl, confronted Das, leading to an altercation. The situation escalated when several associates of the youth joined in, attacking Das with sharp-edged weapons.
The Arrests and Criminal Histories
The five men arrested from Gujarat are Raja Ray, Kalia Mohanty, Sani Naik, Rajesh Naik, and Rajesh Behera. All the accused are in their twenties. Commissioner Singh revealed that the suspects had fled to Gujarat in an attempt to evade arrest. He also noted that among those arrested, Rajesh and Sani had prior criminal records.
Police Pursuit and Case Status
The swift cross-state operation highlights the police's determined effort to solve the case. "The five arrested suspects fled to Gujarat to evade arrest," Commissioner Singh emphasized. With these arrests, the police believe they have nabbed the primary accused involved in the fatal assault. The investigation continues as authorities piece together the complete sequence of events and gather further evidence.
The case has drawn attention to the violent consequences of personal disputes in the capital city. The police have assured that a thorough probe is underway to ensure justice is served for the victim's family.
