Rourkela: A 54-year-old village priest was arrested on Saturday for allegedly hacking a 25-year-old man to death in Sundargarh district after the victim tried to intervene in a domestic dispute between the accused and his wife on Friday night.Kandarpa Dehuri of Dehuripada in Mayabahal village under Talsara police station limits, had allegedly assaulted his wife, Binita (40), following an argument after returning home from conducting a traditional village ritual earlier in the day. Binita ran to the house of a neighbour, Hemanta Nayak, to seek refuge.Police said Dehuri followed her to Nayak’s house and created a ruckus. When Hemanta’s sister, Kumari Nayak (22), came out and tried to calm him, the accused allegedly abused and attempted to assault her. As Hemanta intervened to stop him, Dehuri reportedly went back home, returned with a sharp weapon and attacked Hemanta repeatedly, killing him on the spot.Police reached the spot after being alerted by the victim’s family, seized the body and launched an investigation. A scientific team examined the scene and the body was handed over to the family after post-mortem. “The accused has been arrested and the weapon of offence seized. Investigation is underway,” said Nirmal Mohapatra, SDPO (Sadar), Sundargarh.Hemanta was the sole earning member of his family. He is survived by two younger brothers and a sister. With his sister’s marriage scheduled for July 6, the family has been left in distress.
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