The much-hyped murder case of Ashok Patra which occurred in Rameswar ashram premises on Saturday took a new turn with the arrest of three persons who had accompanied the deceased to the ashram.
After three days of investigation, the police, which claimed to have solved the murder mystery, however found no involvement of Baba Ananad Atma alias Alok Bisoi in the murder.
The arrested trio include principal accused Chandra Sekhar Rout alias Tulu(40), Madan Sahu (40), Pabani Sahu(35) of village Chahapada. Search is on to nab another Rabindra Patra alias Rabi of the same village who is absconding, informed SP, Cuttack (Rural) Guru Das Kundu.
Addressing a Press meet at Salepur police station on Wednesday evening, Kundu said that on the ill-fated day, Bisoi was present in his ashram along with his 92-year-old father Daulat Bisoi of lekhanpur.
Madan, Pabani, Rabi, Tulu and Ashok of Chahapada had come to the ashram. As the main gate of the ashram was locked from inside and no one responded to their repeated knocking, they entered the ashram by climbing over the gate. They reached near Bisoi and demanded Rs10, 000 from him. While Bisoi denied, they started assaulting him.
Despite assault, while Bisoi did not turn up, Tulu attempted to strike him with a chopper. To escape, Bisoi bent himself down as a result of which the stroke of the chopper struck on the neck of Ashok who fell down unconsciously. Meanwhile, Bisoi ran away from the spot and later made him surrendered at Japakuda police outpost.
The four Madan, Pabani, Rabi and Tulu, who thought that it would be harmful for them if Ashok survives, then put another chopper-stoke on
Ashok’s head and also beat him to death. They then brought ghee from the store room, doused body mixing it with kerosene and set it afire.
The accused persons then returned to their village and declared that Baba and his associates beat Ashok to death and set body afire following which the irate villagers rushed to ashram and started ransacking, Kundu informed.
The police took the arrested accused trio to the ashram and made a video shooting of the entire act as per their confession in the presence of locals, Kundu told.
“Baba Ananda Atma alias Alok Bisoi is not involved in the murder case; however we are investigating some other allegation brought against Bisoi,” the SP said, adding that after completion of two days’ remand, Bisoi has been produced in court on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, another accused Rabi Patra, who was involved in the murder of the youth in Rameswar ashram, surrendered before the Khandagiri police in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
Though three accused were arrested by the Cuttack police, Patra was absconding. Police sources said Patra was staying in the capital city after the incident.