Prompt action by the Bhubaneswar Commissionerate Police led to the arrest of nine individuals in connection with a fatal shooting incident on the Sishu Bhaban-Mausi Maa overbridge in the early hours of Thursday, November 5, 2026.
The victim, identified as 25-year-old Tapu Naik, a resident of Sitaram Basti in Tapoban (originally from Golaganda, Cuttack district), succumbed to bullet wounds sustained during the late-night attack on the flyover.
Swift Police Intervention and Arrests
Following news of the firing in the intervening night of November 4 and 5, a special operation led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Bhubaneswar UPD, was initiated even before the formal complaint was registered. The investigative team tracked down and apprehended all nine accused involved in the assault, seizing the firearm used in the crime along with live ammunition.
Following the preliminary arrests, the victim’s wife, Manasi Nayak (24), lodged a formal written complaint at Dhauli Police Station. Police officially registered Dhauli PS Case No. 305/2026 under Sections 103(1) [Murder] and 3(5) [Joint Liability] of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alongside Sections 25(1)(a) and 27 of the Arms Act, and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
List of Arrested Accused Persons
The nine suspects taken into custody hail from various parts of Khordha, Cuttack, Nayagarh, and Jagatsinghpur districts:
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Somanath Swain (28) – At/Pr: Mahavirnagar, Jharpada, BBSR (Native: Ghadimula, Jagatsinghpur)
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Umesh Kumar Pattanayak (30) – Native: Nabaghanapur, Ranapur, Dist-Nayagarh
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Bishnuprasad Samantaraya alias Pikun (23) – Native: Jena Sahi, Sishupalagada, PS-Dhauli, Dist-Khordha
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Ratnakar Sahoo alias Babul (23) – Native: Kendutipi, PS-Itamati, Dist-Nayagarh
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Alok Jena (30) – Native: Patharadwara, PS-Khandapada, Dist-Nayagarh
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Manas Swain (39) – Native: Mallikpur, PS-Balikuda, Dist-Jagatsinghpur
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Akshaya Pradhan (36) – Native: Biswalpada, PS-Balipatana, Dist-Khordha
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Kalinga Keshari Patra (23) – Native: Ratapat, PS-Badamba, Dist-Cuttack
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Chitrasen Gajendra (32) – Native: Taila Sahi, Sishupalagada, PS-Dhauli, Dist-Khordha
Seizures Made by Police
During the arrest and scene reconstruction, law enforcement officers recovered significant physical and forensic evidence:
| Item Description | Quantity / Details |
| Firearm | One 7.65 mm Pistol |
| Ammunition | One live round & one empty cartridge |
| Vehicle | Suzuki Access Scooter (Regd. No: OD-02-CV-4633) |
| Forensic Evidence | Biological & Physical Exhibits collected from the spot |
Investigators are currently probing the exact motive behind the targeted shooting, including potential prior disputes between the victim and the accused group. Further court proceedings and remand requests are underway.
