The main accused in the murder of a hotel owner was seriously injured in a police encounter in Puri district on Wednesday, police said, after the victim succumbed to injuries sustained in an assault earlier in the night. Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh identified the deceased as hotel owner Pabitra Nayak, about 45, and said the injured accused has been named as staff member Chandan Kumar Palar.
SP Singh said police received information late Tuesday night at the Baliapanda police station about an incident at Hotel Manorama on Dhabaleswar Road. “We received information late last night at the Baliapanda Police Station regarding an incident at Hotel Manorama, located on Dhabaleswar Road,” he told reporters.
According to the police, Nayak was allegedly assaulted and stabbed by a group of people at around 1 a.m. Officers learned that Palar, who worked at the hotel, was among those who attacked the owner. Inspector-in-Charge of Baliapanda Police Station, Inspector Sangita Das, and her team immediately rushed to the scene after receiving the report.
The injured hotel owner was shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Puri but was declared dead on arrival, police said. Following the discovery, investigators began collecting evidence from the crime scene, hotel staff and other sources. Puri Deputy SP Prashant Sahoo, Inspector Sangita Das and other officials are leading the probe.
Police said they later received a tip-off that Palar was attempting to hide in a cashew grove near the Matamath monastery. When the Baliapanda IIC and her team reached the location and moved to apprehend him, Palar allegedly opened fire at officers. To protect themselves, the police returned fire, and Palar sustained a bullet wound to his leg, SP Singh said.
The injured accused received first aid at Puri DHH and was subsequently referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Kataka for further treatment. A murder case has been registered in connection with the incident, and multiple police teams are conducting searches to trace and arrest the other suspects. IANS
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/06/24/odisha-puri-hotel-owner-killed-main-accused-critically-injured-in-police-encounter/
Category: NATIONAL,News Alert
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Publish Date: 2026-06-24 19:04:00
