A 73-year-old man, wanted for murder for nearly 14 years in Gajapati district, was finally apprehended on Thursday from Bandhapada. The accused, identified only as Nama, had been evading arrest since the crime occurred.
On the same day, a 25-year-old known criminal, Sohail Chand, was brutally murdered in broad daylight at Vandevi Nagar Square. Chand had visited the police station just hours before the killing.
Authorities were aware of the ongoing rivalry. A complaint had been filed against Chand months ago after one of the accused reported him. However, police inaction failed to prevent the tragedy.
Following the murder, Yashodhara Nagar police arrested three suspects: Mohd Sadiq Ansari (29), Naushad Sheikh Shahzad Sheikh (27), and Sheikh Shadab Sheikh Shahzad (26), all residents of Vandevi Nagar.
The attack, which took place around 3:30 pm, was the result of a six-month-old feud that began at a wedding, where Chand, who had multiple criminal charges including drug smuggling, theft, and robbery, clashed with one of the accused.
The conflict escalated in February when Chand assaulted one of the suspects, prompting police to register a case against him. However, Chand managed to evade arrest, and the police’s failure to take decisive action allowed him to continue threatening the accused, even visiting their homes.
Frustrated by the ongoing threats, the accused allegedly planned and executed Sohail Chand’s murder. On Thursday morning, they spotted Chand at Vandevi Nagar Square, leading to the fatal attack.
