Keonjhar triple murder: Three relatives arrested for killing couple and daughter | Bhubaneswar News

Three relatives were arrested in Keonjhar for allegedly hacking a couple and their teenage daughter to death over a long-standing property dispute. The brutal attack occurred Sunday evening when a land argument escalated violently. The victims, Jitendra Soren, his wife Malati, and daughter Sasmita, were killed with an axe. Two younger daughters survived.

Keonjhar: Police on Tuesday arrested three relatives for allegedly murdering a couple and their daughter at Nialijharan village in Keonjhar district over a long-standing property dispute on Sunday.The accused have been identified as Laxman Soren, 36, his relative Baidyanath Soren, 50, and Baidyanath’s son, Sudam, 24. Police said the land dispute between two branches of the same family had been simmering for years. On Sunday evening, the quarrel allegedly turned violent, resulting in Jitendra Soren, 45, his wife Malati Soren, 35, and their daughter Sasmita Soren, 15, being hacked to death with an axe by their relatives.Police said that Jitendra’s brother, Laxman, was first arrested in connection with the murders, followed by Baidyanath and Sudam. Sources added that Jitendra, a driver, is survived by three daughters and a son. His eldest daughter, who is married, had returned home for the Makar Sankranti festival when the tragedy occurred.On Sunday, Jitendra’s two younger daughters returned home after collecting firewood and saw Baidyanath and Sudam arguing with their father over the land dispute. The confrontation escalated, and the assailants allegedly attacked Jitendra with an axe. When Sasmita attempted to intervene, she too was attacked, followed by her mother Malati. All three died on the spot. The younger and eldest daughters survived the assault.Upon receiving information, Anandapur sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Kamal Panda, along with Ghasipura police, rushed to the scene and recovered the bodies. On Monday, a forensic team from Keonjhar visited the village to collect evidence. The bodies were later sent to the Anandapur sub-divisional hospital for autopsy before being handed over to the family.“A crime scene reconstruction was conducted to understand how the murders unfolded. The accused will be forwarded to court after completion of the necessary formalities,” said Kishor Chandra Pradhan, IIC of Ghasipura police station.