Odisha: Three Including Juvenile Arrested in Chikiti Murder Case

Berhampur: Three individuals, including a juvenile, have been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of a person in Chikiti area in Odisha’s Ganjam district.

The accused are Sankar Paik (21), Santosh Jena alias Bagha (28), and a 17-year-old juvenile, all residents of villages under K. Nuagaon police station limits.

They have been arrested in connection with the murder of Balaram.

As per the police investigations, the incident occured late at night when Balaram, who had visited his sister’s house in Chikiti, was returning to his home in Rampur. Around 10 PM, he stopped at Dhanaghar Chak to chat with his friend Santosh Jena. During the conversation, Biprab Mallick joined them. Shortly after, the juvenile and his friend Sankar Paik arrived at the scene. Tensions escalated when Balaram slapped Biprab Mallick, prompting the juvenile to retaliate by slapping Balaram. Although the situation was briefly diffused by others present, the conflict reignited later.

Santosh Jena lent his bike to the juvenile to drop Biprab Mallick at his home in Rampur. On his way back, Balaram, who had been waiting, confronted and assaulted the juvenile. The juvenile called Sankar Paik for help. Paik and Jena rushed to the scene, where they found Balaram attacking the juvenile. In the ensuing chaos, Paik struck Balaram on the head with a stone, causing severe injury. As Balaram weakened and fell, the juvenile allegedly stabbed him multiple times in the neck, chest, and abdomen with a kitchen knife he was carrying. The trio fled the scene, discarding the knife in a nearby field. Police recovered the weapon and arrested the accused. The three were produced before a court today. Further investigations are underway , stated Berhampur SP Dr. Saravana Vivek M.