The Ganjam police, who were under tremendous pressure after the slaying of BJD youth leader and Chhatrapur Ward-6 Councillor laxmidutta Pradhan, on Friday arrested eight persons in connection with the murder that took place on September 16.
The police arrested the accused, who were on the run since the incident, after conducting raids at various places, informed SP Ashis Singh at a Press meet here.
Singh said that seven of the eight accused hail from Chhatrapur while one is a resident of the Kodala area, all in Ganjam district. The arrestees were identified as Sonu alias Pravat Kumar Nayak, Surjya Kumar Nayak, Prem Kumar Nayak, N Iswar Reddy, Kuna Nayak, Jiten Kumar Nayak, Susila Nayak and Prasant Swain. While the rest are natives of Chhatrapur, Prasant belongs to Mardakote under the Kodala police station.
The police have seized three bikes, a car and weapons like the blood-stained swords used in the crime from the accused possession. The police also seized a CCTV installed in front of the house of the Councillor. The SP said the murder was a well-planned one and fallout of past enmity.
Sources said the police are on the lookout for others involved in the incident and are also probing other angles like political conspiracy behind the murder.
Notably, a group of miscreants had entered the house of Councillor Pradhan near lIC Colony in Chhatrapur and attacked him with sharp weapons. Pradhan’s brother was also critically injured in the attack.
Though Pradhan was rushed to the MKCG Medical College Hospital here, he succumbed to his injuries.