Three individuals, including a home guard, have been arrested for the murder of realtor Sasmit Biswal (47) in connection with a land dispute near Jamukoli village under Airfield police limits, officials confirmed on Saturday.
The accused have been identified as:
Sukanta Behera (41) – Home guard posted at Khandagiri Police Station
Manoj Behera (31)
Gulu Mohanty (34)
The prime accused, Tulu Mohanty, a native of Padhansahi, and several of his associates are still absconding.
According to police, Sasmit and Tulu were once business partners involved in land dealings in Padhansahi Mouza but fell out due to growing rivalry. Sasmit continued to buy and sell plots in the area, which allegedly threatened Tulu’s interests. Tensions escalated when Sasmit purchased a plot adjacent to Sukanta’s and paid ₹39 lakh to acquire road access through Sukanta’s land—a deal Sukanta failed to honor or refund, prompting a cheating case last year.
The feud further intensified when Tulu and his aides vandalized Sasmit’s boundary wall and stole bricks, leading to another FIR in December.
On Friday afternoon, during an attempted resolution in the presence of police—where Sasmit’s stolen bricks were returned—a heated argument broke out. After police left the scene, Sasmit was attacked and bludgeoned to death by at least seven assailants, who then dumped his body in a cashew orchard and fled.
DCP Jagmohan Meena confirmed that the murder was pre-meditated and linked directly to the land dispute, adding, “Efforts are on to nab the remaining accused.”
