6 more arrests in Rayagada youth murder case

Koraput: The number of arrests in the sensational murder case of 19-year-old Nikhil Hadapa has risen to nine with Rayagada district police arresting six more accused on Sunday, a day after the arrest of three prime accused from Bihar.Police said the prime accused — Umesh Chandra Hial, Willson Semili alias Raj Semili alias Sipu, and Akshaya Samal alias Tinkulu — were arrested from Aurangabad district in Bihar after an extensive inter-state chase involving Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar police.On Sunday, police arrested four more accused from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, while one accused each was apprehended from Kesinga in Kalahandi district and Rayagada district, taking the total number of arrests in the case to nine.The case came to light after Balama Hadapa of Relli Street in Rayagada lodged a complaint at Rayagada police station on May 10, alleging that her son, Nikhil, had been forcibly abducted by Umesh Hial and his associates from the locality the previous evening.DIG (SWR) Kanwar Vishal Singh said the accused were constantly changing locations to evade arrest, prompting police to form multiple teams.Police seized two vehicles allegedly used in the crime, a pistol, 11 mobile phones, cash and several credit and debit cards from the accused. Further investigation is on and more arrests are likely, police said.