Bhanjpur police have arrested three land brokers, including one from Jharkhand, for allegedly abducting and murdering their business partner, Salku Marandi, in Mayurbhanj district. The accused are Amarnath Panda (36) of Baharagora, East Singhbhum (Jharkhand), Darshan Bhunia (53) of Damodarpur in Baripada, and Biren Soren (55) of Chandua.
Salku Marandi, 34, a resident of Damodarpur, went missing on January 28. His body was later discovered in the Jamsoli forest under the Betnoti police jurisdiction.
According to Additional SP Deepak Gochhayat, the investigation began after Salku’s wife filed a complaint. Phone records revealed the involvement of the accused. Raids led to the arrests of Darshan and Biren. During interrogation, Darshan admitted that all three were involved in real estate business with Salku and that he owed Salku Rs36 lakh but had refused to repay it.
Darshan conspired with Amarnath and Biren to eliminate Salku. On January 28, Amarnath arrived in Baripada, and Darshan agreed to pay Rs36 lakh for the murder. The following day, Darshan called Salku to a fuel station near Telco chowk, Murgabadi, promising to return the money. When Salku arrived, the accused asked him to get into their car. During the ride, they strangled Salku to death and later disposed of his body in the Jamsoli forest.
The police conducted a crime scene reenactment with the accused. The three were produced before court and remanded to judicial custody. Meanwhile, seven to eight other suspects linked to the crime remain at large, with investigations ongoing.
