The case of brutal murder of Seaways Shipping and logistics company general manager (GM) Mahendra Swain has taken a new twist.
In the broad daylight shooting incident, though allegations have been levelled against the managing director of Odisha Stevedores limited (OSl) and three other officials, it is hotly debated in the port town that in the quarrel between two parties, the third party has got benefited.
Now, this has been brought into the purview of investigations. Besides, the dispute over stevedoring, the conflict over providing dumpers is now being investigated by the police.
On Sunday, the Paradip Dumpers’ Association in a written statement to the Paradip police has claimed that the dispute over providing dumpers might be one of the reasons behind the murder of Mahendra Swain. The association has demanded this angle to be probed by the police.
After getting the letter, the police on the day grilled four functionaries of the dumper association for hours. The police also whisked one or two suspects and interrogated them in this connection.
Sources said the newly formed Utkal Stevedoring union , which came up based on the assurance of Seaways shipping company and two dumper and tipper association which came up simultaneously and the requisition made for 115 dumpers and later violation of the conditions is now under the scanner of the police.
According to the agreement with the Seaways Company, the two dumper association members’ hade purchased 115 dumpers. But even after six months the dumpers could not enter the port premises. The dumper owners has called a press meet and said due to the dumpers remaining idle their financial backbone was broken and they have no other option but to embark on a stir.
However, Utkal Stevedores had remained silent over the issue. later, it said the matter would be sorted according to the law and action will be taken according to the District Collector’s decision. The port authorities said after the stevedoring company gives the requisition the dumpers would only be given entry into the port.
However, after the dispute over unloading of a SAIl ship, section 144 of CRPC was clamped and the dumper owners were again left in the lurch. But Seaways authorities remained silent over the issue. It is suspected that someone who has hatched the conspiracy had very tactfully carried out the crime and tried to put the blame on Seaways number one enemy OSl.
So now the police which had now till now carried out a one track investigation against OSl has now enlarged the purview of the investigations.