Kendrapada: Four persons, including three women from the same family, were arrested on Wednesday for their alleged involvement in the murder of 60-year-old Babula Barik of Santasahi village under Kendrapada town police station. The victim was allegedly bludgeoned to death with a stone by his nephew, Himanshu Barik, and other family members on Sunday night.
Land Dispute Motive
Police said a long-standing land dispute between Babula and his brother’s family was the main reason behind the murder. The four accused were identified as Pujarini Barik (26) and her husband Prakash Barik (28), Parbati Barik (40), and Mamata Barik (28), all residents of Santasahi village. The prime accused, Himanshu Barik, remains at large after fleeing the village.
Police Investigation
“We are raiding his hideouts to nab him,” said Suvendu Sahoo, Inspector-in-Charge of Kendrapada town police station. The four arrested individuals were booked under Section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. They were produced before the court in Kendrapada on Wednesday, which rejected their bail applications and remanded them to judicial custody, the police officer added.
The accused are currently in police custody as investigations continue.
