Police on Tuesday arrested two persons on charges of killing former chairman of the Notified Area Council (NAC) of Buguda in Ganjam district.
The prime accused and his accomplice have been nabbed by the investigating team, Sourthern Range DIG Amitabh Thakur told here in a press conference.
While the police have managed to catch hold of the duo identified as Bhalu Sahu and Sunil Sethy, one more aide is still at large. Police have launched a manhunt to apprehend him.
A mouser, six live cartridges and a magazine were seized from their possession. Preliminary investigation revealed that the BJD leader was shot dead over liquor trade rivalry.
Bala Krushna Patra was gunned down by two unidentified motorcycle-borne miscreants near Buguda town while he was returning to Buguda from Budhakhola on a bike on November 24. The assailants fired four to five rounds of bullets at him. Two bullets pierced his head.
He was taken to the Buguda hospital where he was declared brought dead. He was president of the BJD’s Buguda town unit for several years. Besides, he was also into liquor and real estate business in the
area. Following the murder of Patra, local people and his supporters staged road blockade demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.