A wave of shock and panic has gripped Kendujhar district following the brutal murder and robbery of a local businessman late Monday night near the Hanuman Chhak forest along the Patna–Kendeiposhi route.
The victim has been identified as 42-year-old Trilochan Mahanta, son of Sadhaba Mahanta, residing in Khajiraposhi village under the Kendeiposhi Panchayat. Trilochan operated a Customer Service Point (CSP) offering banking services on Balaniposhi Road in the Kendeiposhi market area.
According to police sources, the incident occurred around 10:30 PM. Trilochan’s wife, Tulasi Mahanta, is currently serving as a constable at the Patna Police Station. As part of his daily routine, Trilochan closed his shop and was riding his scooter carrying a bag of cash toward the Patna Police Quarters where he resided.
However, miscreants ambushed him near the Akashia forest near Hanuman Chhak. When Trilochan resisted and refused to hand over the cash bag, the assailants opened fire and attacked him with sharp weapons before fleeing with the money.
Trilochan was left critically injured on the spot. Upon receiving the news, Patna Police Station IIC Kiran Prasad Sahu, ASI Laxman Majhi, Turumunga IIC Deepti Ranjan Sahu, and ASI Sujata Mahanta rushed to the location. They rescued Trilochan and immediately rushed him to Dharanidhar Medical College and Hospital, where attending doctors declared him brought dead.
Following the tragic news, top officials including Additional SP Pratyush Mohapatra and Champua SDPO Rashmi Ranjan Sahu arrived at the scene. Turumunga IIC Deepti Ranjan Sahu, along with a scientific police team, inspected the crime site to collect evidence and initiate a thorough investigation.
