Patel Mohanta murder: Congress worker held

KEONJHAR: Police on Wednesday arrested Sidheswar Naik and Satya Prasad Mohanta in connection with the murder of mineral transporter Patel Mohanta here on November 22, 2013.
Sidheswar had contested the assembly election from Sadar constituency on a Congress ticket while Satya is a contract killer and belongs to Mayurbhanj district, police said.
SP (Keonjhar) Kavita Jalan attributed the murder to business rivalry."Sidheswar had paid Rs 5 lakh to the contract killer to eliminate Patel. We had earlier arrested two persons for their alleged role in the murder. Investigation is on to ascertain involvement of more individuals," the SP said. Sidheswar and Patel of Nayagada village were into transport business. Sidheswar suffered loses as Patel grabbed most of the business deals in the area. He was also responsible for the defeat of Sidheswar's candidates in the gram panchayat elections, sources said. To get rid of Patel, Sidheswar contacted a contract killer gang. After plotting the murder at Khiching and Nayagada, the gang rented a house near Patel's at Keonjhar town.
On the fateful day, they fired on Patel while he was on his way to the market. He died on the way to Cuttack for treatment, sources added.