Employer accused of manager’s murder in Pahala

Bhubaneswar: A 34‑year‑old man was allegedly hacked to death in Pahala on the outskirts of the capital in the early hours of Wednesday, in what police suspect was the fallout of a financial dispute.The deceased, identified as Prabhat Behera of Anantapur, was found lying near a canal along the Nakhara-Sundarpur road with deep cuts on his neck and face. His two-wheeler and some liquor bottles were found near the crime scene.Family members accused Behera’s employer, a local transporter, of orchestrating the killing. Behera worked as his manager. The family members alleged that the transporter had been harassing him over financial matters.According to relatives, Behera was called out of his house around midnight by his employer. “He called up my son at 12 am for a meeting. I warned him not to go, but he left. When he didn’t return, I tried calling him up. I found his phone switched off and the suspect’s number was also unreachable,” said his mother Pratima Behera, alleging that the murder was planned and involved more than one person.Tension gripped the area as irate residents joined the family in blocking the Nakhara-Niali road with the body, demanding immediate arrests.

The blockade lasted nearly three hours, with protesters briefly refusing to allow the body’s removal for post‑mortem until exemplary action was initiated against the culprits.Police have registered a murder case and detained the prime suspect along with his brother. “We are interrogating them to verify the allegations and ascertain the sequence of events. Their phone records are being verified. The motive will be clear soon,” said a senior officer.Police have registered a murder case and detained the prime suspect along with his brother. “We are interrogating them to verify the allegations and ascertain the sequence of events. Their phone records are being verified. The motive will be clear soon,” said a senior officer.