Ranjan Pradhan, from the same village, confessed to the crime, Home Secretary Sanjeev Hota told PTI here.

Hota said the assailant, who attempted to rape Sunita Nayak, killed her when she recognised him.

According to a report received from Phulbani, Ranjan, who went to the shrub forest to collect wood, committed the crime in an inebriated condition.

He also killed his nephew Santosh and grievously injured Aswini Nayak, Sunita's cousin, who happened to be there at the time.

Ranjan was picked up for interrogation yesterday, but was arrested today after he reportedly confessed to the crime.

The eyewitness to the crime, nine-year-old Babula, who had escaped from the scene and informed the villagers, had since been confronted by the accused.

The police claimed Babula told the accused that the assailant resembled him. ``That person is fat and fair like you and has asimilar hairstyle,'' the boy said.

Ranjan was arrested on a murder charge, police said, adding it the autopsy report was awaited.

Meanwhile, the bodies of Sunita and Santosh were laid to rest at the village cemetery last night.