After arresting five persons in connection with Sunday’s murder of Sheikh Bazaar Puja Committee secretary Kesab Behera, the Cuttack Commissionerate police on Monday claimed that the broad daylight shootout was the fallout of rivalry between two groups having dubious business interests pertaining to tenders and auctions.
The police claim of the motive behind the murder was, however, refuted by the victim’s family members who said Kesab had no rivalry with anyone over tenders or auctions. “My brother was the secretary of the prestigious Sheikh Bazaar Puja Committee and also was the vice-president of the Mahanagar Puja Committee. He was also associated with several other social organisations of the city, district and State,” said Kesab’s elder brother Kishore, adding, “Some people could not digest the phenomenal rise in the social status of my brother.”
City DCP S Praveen Kumar, however, emphatically said the inputs they have received indicate that Kesab was interested in expanding his business empire and eyeing for the auction of shops selling Prasad and Puja items in the famous Chandi Mandir. “He was also into tender-fixing in the cycle stand bids for the annual Baliyatra in the city,” the DCP said, adding that the murder was the outcome of previous business rivalry.
State DGP Prakash Mishra also answering reporters’ queries said Keshab’s murder was due to previous rivalry with his business competitors. He said the police would come with a heavy hand on all the elements who are out to take law onto their hands for their business interests.
The city DCP informed that the police have retrieved two sophisticated pistols and seven live bullets from the arrested persons in connection with Kesab’s murder.
Those arrested are Biswanath Behera, Kesab Behera alias Mantu, Debraj Behera, Prakash Behera and Syed Abdul alias laden Munna, all of the city. The DCP also disclosed that the arrested persons are followers of Kendrapada-based mafia don Tito.