Berhampur, July 20: Berhampur Sadar Police on Monday arrested four alleged antisocials for threatening, assaulting and intimidating a key prosecution witness in a murder case in an attempt to prevent him from testifying in court.
The accused have been identified as Nilamadhab Sahu alias Bhabani (24), Sai Kiran Gouda alias Sai (23), Rakesh Mandal (25) and Sunil Kumar Das (24). They were arrested in connection with Berhampur Sadar Police Station Case No. 461/2026 registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to police, the complainant, 21-year-old Narasingha Sahu of Raula Sukunda village, is an eyewitness in the murder of Bidyadhar Panigrahi that took place about a year ago under Badabazar police limits. Police alleged that the accused, acting on behalf of the murder suspects currently lodged in judicial custody, had been threatening the witness for the past two months to either give false evidence or refrain from deposing in court.
Police said that on July 15, the accused allegedly reached UP School at Raula Sukunda in a car, threatened Narasingha and assaulted him with a sharp weapon, causing injuries. Out of fear, he did not immediately report the incident. In another incident during the night of July 16-17, the accused allegedly arrived at his residence in two cars and threatened his parents with dire consequences if their son testified in the murder case.
During the investigation, police seized a Maruti Brezza (OD 07BF 8777) and a Mahindra Bolero Neo (OD 32Z 1438), which were allegedly used in the commission of the offences.
Police further said that one of the arrested accused, Sai Kiran Gouda, has several previous criminal cases registered against him, including offences under the Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act.
All four accused were produced before the court on Monday. Further investigation is underway.
