Two persons were arrested in connection with the murder of a local BJD leader and former chairman of Notified Area Council (NAC), Buguda in Ganjam district, the police said today.
The two were arrested here yesterday for allegedly killing Bala Krushna Patra (55) at Kharianal near Buguda on November 24, DIG (southern range), Amitabh Thakur said.
The arrested persons were identified as Bhagaban Sahu (45) of Sahebagada, stated to be the main accused and Sunil Sethi (23) of Polasara. Police recovered a mouser and six rounds of life ammunition from Sethi.
Rivalry in liquor business between Patra and Sahu was stated to be the main reason behind the murder, DIG said.
Sahu had engaged two persons, including Sethi, who had fired seven rounds at Patra when he was retrning home from Budhakhola in motorcycle, police said. He was taken to nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead.
"We have identified the other accused who is likely to be booked soon," Thakur stated.
"We had formed three squads for investigation of the case from different angles and reached a conclusion that incident was due to liquor business," SP (Berhampur) Narsingh Bhol said.
