In a significant breakthrough in the murder case of a transgender individual, Odisha Police have arrested the prime accused, Krushna Kandi, following a dramatic encounter on the Bhubaneswar-Puri National Highway near Taraboi on the Pipili Bypass, close to the Nayara Petrol Pump.
Kandi, a known anti-social element from the Konark area with a history of involvement in multiple snatching cases, was identified through technical intelligence and sustained investigation.
The case, registered as Pipili PS Case No. 73/26 dated February 2, 2026, under sections 103(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), pertains to the brutal stabbing murder of Sona, a transgender person also known as a Kinnar, near Uttara Chhak in front of CIFA on NH-316. The incident occurred on the night of February 1, 2026, when the victim was attacked by assailants, leading to her death at Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar. The murder has sparked protests from the transgender community, demanding justice and a thorough probe.
According to police reports, upon receiving credible information about Kandi’s presence near Taraboi while travelling from Konark towards Puri, a special team from Pipili Police Station set up a checkpoint. As officers attempted to apprehend him, Kandi allegedly opened fire on the team, prompting controlled retaliatory firing in self-defence. Kandi sustained a gunshot wound to his left leg, specifically the knee area. He was immediately rushed to Pipili Hospital for preliminary treatment and subsequently transferred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where he is undergoing medical care under police custody.
No police personnel were injured in the exchange. Authorities recovered a firearm from the scene, and Kandi has been formally arrested in connection with the murder. Police sources indicate that technical evidence, including CCTV footage and call records, played a crucial role in tracking him down. The investigation remains ongoing to determine any additional accomplices, motives behind the crime, and links to other cases involving Kandi’s criminal history.
This encounter underscores the police’s efforts to curb violence against marginalised communities, amid growing concerns over safety for transgender individuals in the region. Community leaders have called for a Crime Branch investigation and compensation for the victim’s family.
