Mancheswar police arrested Sulei Nayak, the alleged mastermind behind the murder of Sahadev Nayak, nearly 10 months after the crime shocked Bhubaneswar.
The arrest marks a breakthrough in the high-profile case that had gripped the city since January.
Sahadev Nayak, a sanitation supervisor and president of the BMC Safai Karmachari Association, was hacked to death near the Rasulgarh flyover on January 8. He was returning home after dropping his daughter at school when bike-borne assailants attacked him with a sword on the railway overbridge. The attackers fled, leaving him critically injured.
Police rushed to the scene and transported Nayak to Capital Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Investigators arrested six individuals soon after and issued a warrant for Sulei Nayak, who had evaded capture until now.
According to sources, Sulei played a central role in orchestrating the murder. His arrest followed sustained tracking and intelligence gathering by the Mancheswar police team. He will be produced in court shortly.
The arrest of the prime accused has revived hopes for justice among Nayak’s family and colleagues. The Safai Karmachari community, deeply affected by the loss, welcomed the development and urged authorities to ensure swift prosecution.
The case highlighted the risks faced by civic workers and the need for stronger protection measures. Police officials reiterated their commitment to pursuing justice and maintaining law and order.
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