3 of family hacked to death over land dispute in Odisha, 2 arrested

A father-son duo was arrested for questioning in connection with the triple-murders, a police officer said. The incident took place in Lapada village in Mahulapali police station area over a land dispute, the officer said.

Three members of a family, including a mother-daughter duo, were hacked to death allegedly by two neighbours in Odisha's Sambalpur district on Wednesday, police said. A father-son duo was arrested for questioning in connection with the triple-murders, a police officer said.

The incident took place in Lapada village in Mahulapali police station area over a land dispute, the officer said. The deceased have been identified as Pirabati Behera (55), her daughter Sabitri Sahu (35) and son-in-law Giridhari Sahu (41), he said.

The bodies of the two women were found near their house, while that of Sahu was found in a field, the officer said. Naveen Dehury (50) and his 22-year-old Mantu have been arrested for questioning, he said.

Sambalpur Superintendent of Police K V Singh visited the spot and said it is being treated as a "red flag case" and the charge-sheet will be submitted early.