Man killed, hands chopped off in Odisha; police probe mining mafia angle

BHUBANESWAR: A man was brutally murdered after assailants allegedly chopped off both his hands in Odisha’s Nayagarh district on Monday morning, police said.The victim was attacked by a group of unidentified persons. He died on the spot due to severe injuries, officials said.The deceased was identified as Ajit Kumar Sahu, a resident of Nayagarh district.Police have launched an investigation to ascertain the motive behind the killing. However, a friend of the deceased, who reportedly witnessed the attack, alleged that the perpetrators were linked to the stone mining mafia operating in the area.Police teams rushed to the spot after receiving information about the murder.The body was sent for post-mortem examination, and efforts are underway to identify and trace the accused involved in the crime.Aggrieved over the gruesome murder, locals staged a roaad blockade on Monday demanding immediate arrest of the killers. “We have detained two suspects. All those involved in the crime would be arrested. The motive is being investigated,” a senior police officer said.