Bhubaneswar: A man bled to death on the road after a group of miscreants chopped off his hands for allegedly trying to extort money from trucks carrying illegally mined laterite stones in Nayagarh district’s Odagaon area, early on Monday.Police identified the deceased as Ajit Kumar Sahoo (38), a resident of Khelapadia Sahi under Odagaon police station limits. Preliminary investigation suggested that Sahoo, accompanied by his associate Santosh Kumar Pradhan (36), intercepted two trucks loaded with laterite stones at Kadalibandh around 12.50 am and demanded money.One of the truck drivers alerted his employer, who soon arrived with his aides around 1.30 am. A heated confrontation ensued, during which one of the suspects pulled out a sword while another restrained Sahoo even as Pradhan fled.As Sahoo fell to the ground, the men attacked him mercilessly. His right hand was severed, while his left hand was chopped off from above the wrist, leading to his death on the spot owing to excessive blood loss. Four persons were later arrested in the case, while police are on the lookout of two more.Senior officials, including IGP (central range) Satyajit Naik and Nayagarh SP S Susree, visited the crime scene. “Multiple teams have been formed to arrest those responsible. Forensic evidence has been collected, and perpetrators will not be spared,” Naik told TOI.According to the investigators, Sahoo used to target trucks transporting illegally mined laterite stones and extort money from them. “Though no formal case has been registered against him, our inquiry suggests he regularly extorted money and threatened to inform police if miners and truck drivers refused to pay,” Susree said.The gruesome killing sparked outrage among locals, who staged a two-hour road blockade in Odagaon, demanding strict action. Residents alleged that unchecked illegal stone mining in the region has fuelled repeated conflicts and criminal activities.Police authorities assured coordinated efforts with district mines and revenue officials to curb the menace. “We are working to tighten enforcement against illegal mining and transportation of stones with the help of mines officials,” Susree said.Bhubaneswar: A man bled to death on the road after a group of miscreants chopped off his hands for allegedly trying to extort money from trucks carrying illegally mined laterite stones in Nayagarh district’s Odagaon area, early on Monday.Police identified the deceased as Ajit Kumar Sahoo (38), a resident of Khelapadia Sahi under Odagaon police station limits. Preliminary investigation suggested that Sahoo, accompanied by his associate Santosh Kumar Pradhan (36), intercepted two trucks loaded with laterite stones at Kadalibandh around 12.50 am and demanded money.One of the truck drivers alerted his employer, who soon arrived with his aides around 1.30 am. A heated confrontation ensued, during which one of the suspects pulled out a sword while another restrained Sahoo even as Pradhan fled.As Sahoo fell to the ground, the men attacked him mercilessly. His right hand was severed, while his left hand was chopped off from above the wrist, leading to his death on the spot owing to excessive blood loss. Four persons were later arrested in the case, while police are on the lookout of two more.Senior officials, including IGP (central range) Satyajit Naik and Nayagarh SP S Susree, visited the crime scene. “Multiple teams have been formed to arrest those responsible. Forensic evidence has been collected, and perpetrators will not be spared,” Naik told TOI.According to the investigators, Sahoo used to target trucks transporting illegally mined laterite stones and extort money from them. “Though no formal case has been registered against him, our inquiry suggests he regularly extorted money and threatened to inform police if miners and truck drivers refused to pay,” Susree said.The gruesome killing sparked outrage among locals, who staged a two-hour road blockade in Odagaon, demanding strict action. Residents alleged that unchecked illegal stone mining in the region has fuelled repeated conflicts and criminal activities.Police authorities assured coordinated efforts with district mines and revenue officials to curb the menace. “We are working to tighten enforcement against illegal mining and transportation of stones with the help of mines officials,” Susree said.
