Bhubaneswar, May 16: In a horrifying incident that has shocked the residents of Puri, Narasingh Behera, the secretary of the Masanichandi temple management committee, was brutally murdered late last night while sleeping on the veranda of his house at Masanichandi Sahi, under Baseli Sahi police station limits.

According to Puri DSP Prasant Sahoo, the crime was committed by a minor boy and his accomplices, allegedly over a dispute related to the theft of green coconuts from the Masani Chandi temple premises. Behera had earlier caught the accused red-handed stealing coconuts from the temple grounds and had a heated argument with the accused's family.

On the night of the incident, the minor, along with a group of armed associates, reportedly scaled the boundary wall of Behera’s house. Taking advantage of the high humidity, which had forced Behera to sleep outside, the assailants attacked him. They allegedly threw chilli powder into his eyes to incapacitate him before fatally assaulting him with a sharp weapon.

The police have taken the minor accused into custody, and further investigations are underway. A case has been registered based on a complaint filed by the victim’s family.

Powered by Froala Editor