Odisha youth kills parents, sister over land dispute
Police said the accused, who had completed his graduation, was preparing for competitive examinations to secure a government job while his father ran a laundry shop to support the family
Bhubaneswar: A 22-year-old man was arrested for allegedly murdering his parents and sister over a land dispute in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district, police said on Tuesday.
Jagatsinghpur superintendent of police (SP) Bhabani Shankar Udgata said, “A preliminary investigation suggests Suryakanta Sethi, 22, killed his father Prasahnt Sethi, 65, mother Kanaklata Sethi, 62, and sister Rojalin Sethi, 25, after a heated argument over distribution of land among the accused and two of his siblings, and felling of sal trees in their property. He informed his neighbours after the murder before fleeing the spot. However, he was arrested later.”
“During interrogation, he confessed to have bludgeoned his family member with an iron rod in their sleep. His elder brother, Ramakant Sethi, 34, who lives in Keonjhar, said he was behaving erratically of late and occasionally had heated arguments with the family members. Some of his relatives and neighbours alleged the accused was mentally challenged,” Udgata said.
The accused, who had completed his graduation, was preparing for competitive examinations to secure a government job while his father ran a laundry shop to support the family, police said, adding he had another sibling Umakant Sethi, 32, who lives in Bhubaneswar.
“He used to show unpredictable behaviour and would leave the house every day without informing anyone. He also had frequent arguments with his parents who suspected him of taking drugs. He might have committed this crime in a fit of rage,” Ramakant said.
“Police are probing the matter from all angles,” Udgata added
