Through inter-state manhunt, Rayagada police finally nabs nine dreaded murderers

Badal Tah,Odishabarta

Associate editor

Rayagada,(17/05/26):Rayagada police has successfully nabbed nine dreaded murderers through an inter-state hound. On dated 10.05.2026 at 12:50 AM, the complainant Balama Hadapa(36), W/o- Shiva Hadapa of Rayagada Relli Street, appeared at PS and presented a written report alleging therein that on 09.05.2026 at about 07:30 PM, she received a phone call from the mother of her son’s friend informing her that her son named Nikhil Hadapa(19) had been forcibly taken away from the locality by one Umesh Hial of Nuasahi along with some of his associates, using a car, to an unknown destination. Hence, she reported the matter for necessary action. On receipt of the report, police registered a case and investigated the matter.

Rayagada police formed teams to search Nikhil at various places but could not trace his whereabouts. On morning of 10.05.2025, the dead body of abducted person Nikhil was found lying on Nagavali river bank near village Tumbiguda having gunshot injuries. Scientific team of DFSL, Rayagada visited the spot and collected evidence. Inquest was conducted over the dead body of deceased in presence of witnesses and family members.

The dead body was sent to DHH, Rayagada for autopsy examination. Investigation revealed that accused Umesh Hial and his associates kidnapped Nikhil. The accused persons chased Nikhil and fired bullets from a pistol out of which two rounds pierced in the body of Nikhil and he succumbed to his injuries at the spot. Later, all accused persons carried Nikhil’s dead body & threw it on the Nagabali river bank near village Tumbiguda by using one white colour Mahindra Bolero Neo vehicle bearing regd. No. OD10V1091 and one black colour Mahindra Scorpio vehicle bearing regd. No. OD05BZ0405. Umesh Hial gang had planned the murder of Nikhil over previous enmity relating to a gambling case in Almonda in Koraput district, where Nikhil and his gang had stolen cash and gold worth lakhs of rupees.

Multiple teams were formed under direct supervision of Rayagada SP Swathy S Kumar, IPS, to nab the accused. Addl. SP Ramendra Prasad, IPS, was heading technical intelligence and Addl SP Manoj Pujari, OPS, was heading human intelligence. They were assisted by SDPO Gaura Hari Sahu, Insp Prasanna Kumar Behera and Insp Avinash Reddy. ⁠

The accused persons were evading arrest and multiple times police just missed in nabbing them. In this constant pursuit, Rayagada police dispatched multiple teams headed by Police Inspectors to areas within the State and beyond to trace the accused persons primarily involved in the crime namely Umesh Chandra Hial, Willson Semili @ Raj Semilli @ Sipu, Akshay Samal @ Tinkulu. They were arrested from Aurangabad district in Bihar. Police had sent teams to Jharkhand and Bihar to trace the accused persons. Police liasoned with multiple districts including Ranchi, Hazaribagh of Jharkhand and Gaya, Aurangabad of Bihar. Finally these three accused persons were arrested from Aurangabad District of Bihar, based on pinpoint information. Four accused persons namely Y.Shyam Sundar, V. Lokesh Kumar, B. Paban Kumar, S.Prem Kumar were apprehended from Vishakhapatnam by Rayagada police. One accused namely Sumit Jain was apprehended from Kesinga in Kalahandi. One more accused namely Raja Huika @ Barun was apprehended from Rayagada.

The persons who aided the accused persons in evading police custody were also thoroughly interrogated and have been served notice u/s Section 35(3) of BNSS under various sections for harbouring the accused, sending money to accused persons and destruction of evidence.Further investigation is ongoing and more arrests are likely to follow. More information could not be disclosed at this stage as it might affect the investigation as said by Swathi Kumar during a press meet.

Police has seized the Scorpio & Bolero Neo used in this heinous act. So also one pistol, 11 nos. of mobile phones, several credit and debit cards, cash, etc have been seized.

This Ref:-Rayagada, May 17: Vide PS Case No. 184 Dt. 10.05.2026 U/S 140(3) BNS turned to Sec.191(2)/191(3)/140(2)/103(1)/238(a)/ 61(2)/190 BNS r/w Sec. 25(1A)/27 Arms Act,