JHARSUGUDA: Two prime accused in the Belpahar murder case suffered bullet injuries in a police encounter early Tuesday after they allegedly opened fire on a police team while trying to flee. The injured were identified as Sunil Mahanada alias Tabu (22) and Chand Banchhor (25), both from Gaurpali under Burla police limits in Sambalpur. Police said both sustained bullet injuries to their legs and were admitted to the district headquarters hospital in Jharsuguda. The case relates to the murder of 22-year-old Rahul Mahato following a road-rage clash near Belpahar on Monday afternoon. Police said a car and a motorcycle collided, triggering an argument that escalated into violence. The accused allegedly attacked Mahato with a machete (bhujali), leaving him critically injured. He later died at Lakhanpur hospital. Another youth, Akash Sahu, who was injured in the attack, is undergoing treatment at the district headquarters hospital. CCTV footage and technical surveillance helped police identify the vehicle and apprehend three persons on Monday evening. Jharsuguda SP GR Raghavendra said police received inputs early Tuesday about the presence of the two main accused near Shagun forest, close to a government school at Karlakhaman under Belpahar police limits. “Based on technical inputs, multiple teams traced the accused. When the police reached the spot, they allegedly opened fire while attempting to escape. The team retaliated in self-defense with controlled firing,” he said. Raghavendra said Sunil Mahanada has five criminal cases against him, including under POCSO, while Chand Banchhor is involved in three cases, including burglary and rioting.
