Double murder rocks Sambalpur

SAMBALPUR: Tension ran high at Thelkopada in Sambalpur city following the murder of two persons over past enmity between two families at Thelkopada under Town police limits here on Monday. The deceased have been identified as Sujit Nag (25) and Shankar Mukhi (43) of Thelkopada. Reports said a group of five persons led by Pandaba Mukhi (36) of Thelkopada allegedly stabbed Sujit to death at around 7.30 am near a tea stall in the same locality. When Sujit had gone to the tea stall, Pandaba and his associates attacked him with sharp weapons and fled.

Though Sujit was rushed to Sambalpur District Headquarters Hospital, he was declared brought dead. Enraged over the murder of Sujit, locals of Thelkopada went to the house of Pandaba and attacked his elder brother Shankar Mukhi (43) killing him on the spot before setting the house of Pandaba on fire at around 8.30 am. Pandaba’s another brother, Kranti Mukhi, also sustained critical injuries in the attack and was admitted to VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla. Police rushed to the spot while fire brigade was pressed into service to douse the fire.

Sambalpur SP Sanjeev Arora also reached the spot to take stock of the situation. Police said both Pandaba and Sujit have criminal antecedents and had old enmity. There have been several instances when the duo were engaged in fight which had led to enmity between the two families. Palpable tension prevailed in the locality and five platoons of police forces have been deployed to prevent any untoward incident. Arora said two prime accused Pandaba Mukhi and Sambhu Mukhi have already been arrested. Two murder cases have been registered in the Town police station and further investigation is on. The police are conducting raids at various places to nab other accused involved in the two incidents, he added.