In a significant development in the alleged murder of web channel journalist Sailendranath Jena in Nayagarh district over extramarital affair, prime accused Gopinath Sahoo alias Dipu and his father surrendered at the Mahipur police outpost in Nayagarh district on Thursday.

Sailendranath (40), a native of Patkura in Kendrapada district, was residing in the Sati Chaura locality of Cuttack city. He was also a social worker. A year ago, he had developed an affair with Sunita, wife of his friend Gopinath Sahoo while they were staying at Jhanjirimangala of Cuttack. A dispute emerged between the two friends over the matter.

Gopinath, a Dahibara Aloodum vendor, had then returned to his village in Nayagarh along with his wife and three sons. Sailendranath allegedly went to Gopinath’s village multiple times during the last few months to meet the latter’s wife, for which the dispute intensified.

On December 3, Sailendra again went to Mahipur by a motorcycle with his friend Jayaprakash Sahoo, who dropped him at Gopinath’s house and waited for him near the Mahipur Government Hospital. As Sailendranath didn’t return till late night, Jayaprakash left the place and headed towards Cuttack by the two-wheeler and apprised Sailendra’s family members about the matter.

Next day, Sailendra’s family lodged a missing complaint with the Lalbag police.

About Sailendra’s murder, a police official said, “Gopinath, his wife Sunita and his friend Suriya Sahoo killed him. Later, Gopinath, his father and Suriya set the body on fire and threw the half-burnt body into a pond two km away from Mahipur to eliminate evidence.”