The city police on Monday claimed that they have detained a person who is believed to be the prime suspect behind the three back-to-back murder incidents that happened here within 24 hours last week.
City DCP Akhileswar Singh told reporters that the suspected serial killer has been identified as one Narayan Sahu (30) of Ganjam district, who was seen wandering on roads near OMP Square, College Square and Ranihat for around three to four months now.
“A special squad engaged for the purpose apprehended the prime suspect from a place outside the city on Monday morning and he is now being questioned by a team of investigating officers,” Singh said without divulging exactly from where the accused was apprehended. He further claimed that during the hour-long questioning of the suspect, it prima facie appeared that the person was not a psychopath as was widely perceived.
“Details about the modus operandi, weapons of offence and the motive behind the murders would be ascertained during the subsequent questioning of the suspected accused,” Singh said, adding that due process of criminal law, including medical examination, would be followed in the event of his arrest.
Three unidentified bodies had been recovered from the city from three different places on Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning. Since all the bodies had similar cut wounds in the throats and crushing head injuries and all the victims turned out to be homeless persons sleeping on footpaths, police began investigation believing that a single individual was behind all these deaths. A team of officials was entrusted to investigate into the three killings from all angles and the team also went to several places outside the city during the course of investigation,