Puri hotel owner stabbed to death; main accused shot in police encounter
Synopsis
A hotel staffer allegedly stabbed his employer to death at midnight in Puri, then opened fire on police who cornered him near a monastery — and was shot in the leg. The accused is now critical at SCB Medical College, while a manhunt is on for other suspects in what police are treating as a planned assault.
Key Takeaways
Pabitra Nayak , aged around 45 , owner of Hotel Manorama in Puri , was stabbed to death at approximately 1 am on 25 June .
Prime accused Chandan Kumar Palar , a hotel staff member, was shot in the leg during a police encounter near the Matamath monastery.
Palar is currently undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack , in a critical condition.
A murder case has been registered; multiple police teams are searching for other accused persons.
The encounter was led by Inspector Sangita Das , IIC of Baliapanda Police Station , under the supervision of SP Prateek Singh .
A hotel owner in Puri, Odisha, was stabbed to death in the early hours of Wednesday, 25 June, and the prime suspect sustained a bullet injury to his leg during a subsequent police encounter, according to Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh. The incident, which unfolded near Dhabaleswar Road, has prompted a murder case registration and an ongoing manhunt for other accused.
What Happened at Hotel Manorama
At approximately 1 am, police at Baliapanda Police Station received information about an assault at Hotel Manorama on Dhabaleswar Road. The victim, Pabitra Nayak, aged around 45 years and the owner of the establishment, was allegedly assaulted and stabbed by a group of individuals. Among those identified was Chandan Kumar Palar, a staff member at the hotel, who is believed to have carried out the attack on Nayak.
Inspector-In-Charge of Baliapanda Police Station, Inspector Sangita Das, along with her team, rushed to the crime scene immediately upon receiving the alert. Nayak was transported to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Puri, but he had already succumbed to his injuries by the time he arrived.
The Police Encounter
As investigators gathered evidence from Hotel Manorama and spoke to staff, a tip-off revealed that Chandan Kumar Palar was attempting to conceal himself in a cashew grove near the Matamath, a noted monastery in Puri. When the Baliapanda police team moved in to apprehend him, Palar allegedly opened fire at the officers.
According to SP Singh, the police retaliated in self-defence. 'During the exchange of fire, Chandan Palar sustained a bullet injury to his leg,' Singh said at a press briefing. Palar was first taken to Puri DHH for initial treatment and subsequently referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for further care, where he remains in a critical condition.
Investigation and Search Operations
Puri Deputy SP Prashant Sahoo, Inspector Sangita Das, and other officers are actively collecting evidence and pursuing leads in the case. A formal murder case has been registered in connection with the Tuesday night incident. Multiple police teams have been deployed, and search operations are underway to trace and arrest the remaining accused persons involved in the crime.
What Comes Next
Authorities have not yet disclosed the number of individuals being sought in connection with the stabbing. The condition of the injured accused, Chandan Kumar Palar, is being monitored at SCB Medical College. As the investigation widens, police are expected to release further details on the motive and the full extent of those involved.
Point of View
A cornering, and a retaliatory exchange of fire that leaves the accused critically wounded. What this case surfaces is the vulnerability of small hospitality businesses to insider violence — Palar was reportedly a staff member, not an outsider. The speed of the police response is notable, but the larger question is how many others were involved and whether the motive — still undisclosed — points to a premeditated conspiracy or a spontaneous assault. The investigation's credibility will rest on how transparently the encounter is documented and whether the remaining accused are brought to trial.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was killed in the Puri hotel stabbing?
The victim was Pabitra Nayak , approximately 45 years old and the owner of Hotel Manorama on Dhabaleswar Road in Puri, Odisha. He was allegedly stabbed by a group of individuals, including a hotel staff member, at around 1 am on 25 June.
Who is the main accused in the Puri hotel murder case?
The prime accused is Chandan Kumar Palar , who was employed as a staff member at Hotel Manorama. He was shot in the leg during a police encounter near the Matamath monastery in Puri and is currently being treated at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
What led to the police encounter in Puri?
After the murder of hotel owner Pabitra Nayak, police received a tip-off that Chandan Kumar Palar was hiding in a cashew grove near the Matamath monastery. When officers moved to arrest him, he allegedly opened fire on them, prompting the police to retaliate in self-defence.
Where is the accused being treated after the encounter?
Chandan Kumar Palar was initially taken to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Puri for first aid and was subsequently referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack , where he is receiving further treatment for a bullet injury to his leg.
Are other accused persons still at large in the Puri hotel murder case?
Yes, according to Puri SP Prateek Singh, efforts are underway to trace and arrest other accused persons involved in the crime. Multiple police teams have been deployed and search operations are currently being conducted across the region.
