Bhubaneswar police have arrested five men in connection with the murder of 32-year-old Jitendra Das in Nayapalli, following a brutal assault on December 26, 2025. The accused, identified as Raja Ray, Kalia Mohanty, Sani Naik, Rajesh Naik, and Rajesh Behera, were apprehended in Gujarat on Friday.
Das succumbed to his injuries on January 1. The police confirmed that the motive behind the crime was linked to a “triangular love story.” An earlier arrest had been made, and a juvenile was also detained in connection with the case.
Police commissioner S Dev Datta Singh stated that the five suspects had fled to Gujarat to evade arrest. Two of the accused, Rajesh and Sani, reportedly had prior criminal records. According to investigators, Das, a daily wager and married man, had allegedly attempted to woo a 17-year-old girl. This prompted another youth close to the girl to confront him on the evening of December 26. The confrontation escalated as several associates joined in, attacking Das with sharp weapons.
The case was initially registered as an assault at Nayapalli police station on December 27 but was upgraded to murder following Das’s death. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities seeking to uncover any additional accomplices.
