A day after a man was shot dead and his woman relative sustained injuries allegedly by chain snatchers near Patanaikia Square along the Puri-Bhubaneswar NH-316 in the district, police now suspect that the murder of Manoranjan Behera was preplanned with the deceased’s wife telling them that his life was in danger over tender-fixing and with allegations that he had illicit affair with the woman.
The startling revelations of the relatives of the deceased, including his wife Rebati and others, have put the police in a tizzy to crack down the case. “There was life threat to Manoranjan since one year. His life was in danger over tender fixing business. Further he had illicit relationships with many women and he had left the house on Friday morning saying that he had to go on a contract work. Renubala Behera, with whom he was heading for Puri in bike on Friday is a distant sister-in-law,” added Rebati
Meanwhile, the statement Chandrakanta Behera, the husband of Renubala, invited suspicions on her. “She telephoned me saying she was going to her parents’ house in Jajpur on Friday morning. But instead of going Jajpur, she was going to Puri with Manoranjan,” said Chandrakanta.
Police are on the look for suspected supari killers in Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts and also detained seven persons, including Renubala’s husband and son for questioning.
Police recovered a live cartridge and a gold locket from the spot and three dual SIM mobile phones and four SIM cards from Renubala.
“We have detained and are questioning the woman’s husband Chandrakanta and son Biplab to find some vital lead. The man shot dead yesterday, Manoranjan Behera, is a distant relative of the injured woman and a brother-in-law in relation. The statement of lady and her relatives were being verified and cross examined,” said Puri SP Sarthak Sarangi.