Ganjam district was rocked by two murders on Friday. In separate incidents, well-known liquor trader Sunil Nahak and Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) leader Anil Mohanty were killed in the district.

Sunil Nahak, brother-in-law of Aska block Chairperson Tribeni Nahak, lost his life in Danapur under the Kodala police station in the district. SuNIL had traveled to Khallikote to take part in the Ganesh idol immersion ceremony. However, this joyous occasion took a devastating turn when he was attacked and killed during dinner by a group of unidentified assailants in village Danapur,

Sunil, a well-known figure in the liquor trade, was also notorious for his involvement in various criminal cases in different police station areas in the district. His criminal history included a double murder case linked to a dispute over Hanuman coin trading, as well as accusations in cases related to tender fixing, illegal gambling, and other illegal activities.

The Kodala police have detained two suspects Jitu Pradhan(20) and Deepak Khatua (29)  in connection with the case. Both are residents of Danapur.

In a separate incident that shook the district, Anil Mohanty was murdered in Bariguda village under the Dharaikote PS. This incident involved former rivals who had previously been engaged in criminal activities.

Anil was a prominent figure in the district, serving as the secretary of BYJD.  Former Sanakhemundi MLA Nandini Devi and Ganjam Zilla Parishad President Anjali Swain visited the victim's family to offer condolences and demand swift justice for the culprits.

In this connection, one Sanjay Polei (32) son of Muralidhar Polai, from Boriguda under Dharakote PS has been nabbed. This arrest signifies progress in the ongoing investigation into the Dharakote murder case, Brahmapur SP Saravana Vivek M said.