Two arrested in murder of Budhia’s former trainer

The police, he said, had collected “strong evidence” in connection with the killing and would “soon announce the arrest of the main accused.”

The police conducted more than a dozen raids in the city and Cuttack for nabbing the main accused.

Biranchi Das’s brother Sushant Das, on Sunday night, had alleged that Raja Accharya, a known gangster, was involved in the incident.

“We have received an allegation from Das’s family member. The police is verifying the allegation,” Police Commissioner, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Binay Behera said.

Das’s brother also alleged that the gangster had threatened his brother earlier in the day on Sunday.

The police were examining some of the samples which it had collected from the site.

A 9-mm pistol was used in the crime, police said.

Meanwhile, a post-mortem was conducted at the Capital Hospital amidst tight security.

Das was shot dead at a point blank range by gunmen when he was attending a function to celebrate the Oriya new year at the Orissa State Judo Association in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

Giving full credit to Das for bringing Budhia to the lime light, Sukanti said that Budhia was like a son to Biranchi Das.

“Though Das was an outsider, he was instrumental in giving name and fame to Budhia,” the mother said.

Praising the efforts of the former trainer, Sukanti said Das had discovered the hidden talent in Budhia which was not known to anyone, including herself.

On the reason behind her lodging a complaint against Das, Sukanti said: “Since he is no more, there is no point in raising the question.”

“I hope Biranchi Sir will bless my son from his heavenly abode,” she said.

Das’s body was later taken to his residence at BJB Nagar behind the Judo Hall before being taken to ‘Swargadwar’ in Puri for funeral.