Belpahar murder accused Sunil Mahanand, Chand Banchhor shot in Odisha police encounter
Synopsis
Two prime accused in a road-rage murder in Odisha's Belpahar were shot in a police encounter on Tuesday after allegedly opening fire at officers. The victims' deaths and the accused duo's extensive prior criminal records — including POCSO charges — have put the Jharsuguda police's swift response under the spotlight.
Key Takeaways
Sunil Mahanand alias Tabu and Chand Banchhor , prime accused in the Belpahar murder case , were shot during a police encounter in Saguan Jungle, Jharsuguda on 13 May 2025 .
The accused allegedly opened fire at police first; officers responded with "controlled firing," according to SP G.R.
Victim Rahul Mahato was killed after the accused allegedly attacked him with a sharp weapon following a road collision on Sunday.
Sunil Mahanand faces seven prior cases including POCSO charges; Chand Banchhor has three pending cases including burglary and rioting.
Three other accused — Pradeep Banchhor , Puspa Banchhor , and driver Chudamani Kalet — were detained earlier.
The injured duo will be formally arrested after discharge from Jharsuguda District Headquarters Hospital .
Two prime accused in the Belpahar murder case — Sunil Mahanand alias Tabu and Chand Banchhor — sustained bullet injuries during an exchange of fire with police in Jharsuguda district, Odisha, on Tuesday, 13 May 2025. The encounter occurred while officers were attempting to apprehend the duo in a jungle near Karlakhaman UP School, according to officials.
How the Encounter Unfolded
Jharsuguda Superintendent of Police G.R. Raghavendra told reporters that police received a tip-off about the presence of the two main accused in Saguan Jungle near Karlakhaman. When the Belpahar police reached the spot, the accused allegedly opened fire at the officers. "In self-defence, the police resorted to controlled firing, in which Sunil Mahanand alias Tabu and Chand Banchhor sustained injuries," the SP stated.
The injured duo was first taken to a nearby Community Health Centre and later shifted to Jharsuguda District Headquarters Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment. According to officials, they will be formally arrested after discharge.
The Belpahar Murder: What Happened
The chain of events began on Sunday when Chand Banchhor and Sunil Mahanand had come to visit their relative Rinki Banchhor's house. While returning to Burla in Sambalpur district along with Pradeep Banchhor and Puspa Banchhor in a hired four-wheeler, their vehicle reportedly collided with the two-wheeler of victims Akash Sahoo and Rahul Mahato, triggering a heated argument.
In a fit of rage, Chand and Sunil allegedly retrieved a sharp weapon from the vehicle and attacked both victims. Rahul Mahato was rushed to a nearby Community Health Centre, where doctors declared him dead. Akash Sahoo was shifted to Jharsuguda District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. Following the incident, police detained three individuals — Pradeep Banchhor, Puspa Banchhor, and driver Chudamani Kalet — while the prime accused remained absconding until Tuesday's encounter.
Criminal History of the Accused
Both accused carry significant prior criminal records, according to the SP. Chand Banchhor has three pending cases — including burglary and rioting — at Burla police station in Sambalpur district. Sunil Mahanand faces seven cases, including charges under the POCSO Act, burglary, and attempt to commit dacoity. This criminal background, officials indicated, informed the police's assessment of the threat posed during the apprehension attempt.
What Happens Next
With the two prime accused now hospitalised under police watch, investigators are expected to formally arrest them upon medical discharge and produce them before a court. The three previously detained accused — Pradeep, Puspa, and Chudamani — remain in custody. The case underscores a pattern of road-rage escalations turning fatal in the region, with law enforcement under pressure to demonstrate swift accountability.
Point of View
The circumstances warrant scrutiny: both accused have extensive prior records, and encounters involving repeat offenders in India have historically drawn questions about whether due process is being shortcut. The SP's emphasis on 'controlled firing' and the fact that the accused are hospitalised rather than dead suggests procedural caution, but an independent inquiry into the sequence of events would strengthen institutional credibility. Road-rage fatalities in Odisha are not isolated — this case fits a troubling pattern of weapon-carrying and lethal escalation that policing alone cannot address.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the accused in the Belpahar murder case?
The prime accused are Sunil Mahanand alias Tabu and Chand Banchhor, both of whom were shot in a police encounter on 13 May 2025. Three others — Pradeep Banchhor, Puspa Banchhor, and driver Chudamani Kalet — were detained earlier in connection with the case.
What happened in the Belpahar murder?
On Sunday, a vehicle carrying the accused reportedly collided with a two-wheeler ridden by Akash Sahoo and Rahul Mahato in Belpahar, Jharsuguda district. Following an argument, the accused allegedly attacked both victims with a sharp weapon; Rahul Mahato died at a Community Health Centre, while Akash Sahoo was hospitalised.
How did the police encounter take place?
Acting on a tip-off, Belpahar police located the two prime accused in Saguan Jungle near Karlakhaman on Tuesday morning. The accused allegedly opened fire at the officers, who responded with controlled firing, injuring both Sunil Mahanand and Chand Banchhor.
What is the criminal history of the accused?
Sunil Mahanand faces seven pending cases including charges under the POCSO Act, burglary, and attempt to commit dacoity. Chand Banchhor has three pending cases — including burglary and rioting — at Burla police station in Sambalpur district.
What happens to the accused now?
Sunil Mahanand and Chand Banchhor are currently undergoing treatment at Jharsuguda District Headquarters Hospital under police watch. They will be formally arrested and produced before a court after their medical discharge.
