Unidentified miscreants shot dead a youth to free one of their associates detained by the locals at Kandira village under the Rajanagar police station in the district on Monday morning.
The deceased was identified as Kishore Sethi (35), a resident of Kandira village.
The suspect detained by the locals identified as Pabitra Swain of Jarimula village in the district. He was handed over to the police.
Reports said Swain was among four armed miscreants spotted roaming in the village in the past few days. Noticing their suspicious activities, the villagers tried to detain the suspects. While three managed to flee, Swain was caught by the locals and thrashed severely. Later, the locals informed police about it.
Before police reached the spot, three suspects returned to the village on a bike and opened fire on the locals. During the firing, Sethi sustained bullet injuries on his chest following which he died on the spot.
Later, the Rajanagar police reached the village and arrested the youth detained by the locals. They seized two guns and a bullet from his possession.