Escalating tensions over a past enmity resulted in the brutal murder of a 21-year-old youth at Andhari Mundapada under Jujumura police jurisdiction on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident has left the twin villages of Langbahal and Andhari gripped by heavy tension.
The deceased has been identified as Akash Munda (21), a resident of Andhari Mundapada. Police have detained the primary accused, Subodh Munda of Langbahal village, and are currently interrogating him.
According to reports, the incident took place around 4 PM when a group of youths from the Langbahal area arrived at Andhari Mundapada and engaged in a heated altercation with Akash. The confrontation quickly turned violent when the accused, Subodh, repeatedly stabbed Akash in the chest with a knife. Akash collapsed at the scene due to severe blood loss.
While the other accomplices managed to flee immediately after the attack, alert villagers chased down Subodh, overpowered him, and handed him over to the police.
Local residents rushed a critically injured Akash first to the Jujumura Community Health Centre and later transferred him to the Sambalpur District Headquarters Hospital (DHH). However, doctors at the facility declared him brought dead.
Family members alleged that Akash was also assaulted the previous day, hinting that the crime was a pre-planned murder. Following a complaint lodged by the victim’s father, Maniram Munda (45), Jujumura Police registered Case No. 171/26 under Section 109(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Jujumura IIC Anima Ekka stated that the post-mortem examination will be conducted tomorrow, and a comprehensive investigation is underway to uncover the exact motive and track down the remaining suspects involved in the crime.
