PRIME ACCUSED SARMISTHA, AIDE ARRESTED IN MANAS MURDER CASE

Bureau,Odishabarta

Bhubaneswar: Prime accused Sarmistha Rout and her associate Jhuna Bhoi were arrested by Bhadrak Police and Crime Branch on Monday in connection with cameraman Manas Swain murder case. Both of them were arrested from Nalanga area of Bhadrak.

“Both the accused will be produced in the Court of JMFC Chandbali. Crime Branch will seek remand for 10 days,” said Sanjeeb Panda, Additional Director General of Police, Crime Branch.

Sarmistha, owner of a Bhubaneswar-based web channel, was on the run along with her associate Jhuna after police started a probe into the murder of Manas Swain.

Manas had gone to Bhadrak for shooting a marriage function when he was allegedly abducted, taken to a room at Dayal Ashram in Bhubaneswar and assaulted. Later, his body was disposed of in Nayagarh.

Chandbali police recovered Manas’ body from Badhipatna hills in Rajsunakhala area of Nayagarh on March 12. Five persons, including retired Odisha Information Service (OIS) officer Niranjan Sethi, have been arrested in connection with the case. Initial probe indicated that Manas was killed for possessing a microchip that is suspected to have contained some obscene video clips.

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