Police succeeded in nabbing seven accused in connection with the murder of a mining contractor Sunil Lodha (Jain) at Daundi village in Balod district.

Lodha was murdered a couple of days ago at his Daundi based residence. 

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Durg Range G.P. Singh informed media persons that the mastermind of the murder was driver of the Contractor, Dhanraj Sharma.

Dhanraj accompanied by two of his friends planned of loot in the Daundi based residence of Lodha.

Finding Lodha to be a big fish, the driver Dhanraj and his friends contacted a dacoity gang whose kingpin was a lady named Hira Netam of Raipur.

Hira called five other persons from Sambalpur in Odisha and executed the crime, Singh informed.

Police have arrested seven of the accused involved in the loot and murder and two others are absconding, he added.

Dhanraj very well knew that Lodha was a big Contactor and used to keep big cash amounts at his residence, police said. The accused after planning the incident reached Daundi on November 25 in motor cycles and an auto rickshaw. They climbed the building and reached the first floor where cook of Lodha was locked in the room by them.

Thereafter, they came downstairs where they encountered Lodha. As Dhanraj was identified by Lodha, the accused strangulated him to death. After that the accused fled from the spot after snatching his gold chain a golden ring and some cash.

The cook who was locked in the room upstairs later in the morning called a neighbour named Ankit Jain and then door was unlocked. When they reached downstairs they found that the things there were scattered and Lodha was lying dead nearby.

Ankit immediately informed the police and senior officials including the IGP rushed to the spot.

IGP Singh immediately formed a team of police officials of Durg-Bhilai and Balod crime branch and help of Raipur and Bilaspur police was also taken in the investigation.

Police after going through CCTV footage, detained the driver Dhanraj who during interrogation broke down and admitted to committing the crime. After interrogating him, police arrested Hira from Raipur and after getting information of dacoity gang of Odisha, a team was sent there. Police arrested rest of the five accused from Sambalpur in Odisha, police said.