3 detained for murder

ROURKELA: Three persons were detained on Tuesday by police for allegedly lynching a murderer, Manamasi Topno (35) at the remote Bada Roxy village under K Balang police limits, around 100 km from Rourkela.Police in the Maoist-hit Bonai sub-division  also sent the bodies of a church priest Jibanmasi Munda and his killer Topno for postmortem. The priest was killed with a bow and arrow on Sunday evening at Bada Roxy village. In retaliation, the enraged villagers lynched Topno after tying him to a tree.Reports said the twin murders came to light on Monday night and police refrained from visiting the spot after nightfall in the wake of Maoist threat.  Investigation revealed that Munda was reading the Bible in the corridor of his house on Sunday evening when Topno arrived at the spot and had heated exchanges with him.He went only to return with a bow and arrow and shot the priest in the chest. The accused dragged the body to some distance and dumped it on the village road.As soon as the news spread, irate villagers caught hold of Topno, tied him to a tree, and lynched him.Police have registered a case for the murder of the priest and another against some villagers. They said it appeared like Topno killed the priest over past enmity and a few more arrests are likely.