Nilagiri: A 14-year old boy was allegedly beaten to death and his body was dumped in an abandoned building in Nilagiri area of Baleshwar district, triggering tension and protests Saturday.
The deceased, Dinesh, son of Radhamohan Bagsingh of Nuasahi village under Tentulia panchayat, had gone to one Manas Behera’s shop at the panchayat market complex Friday to buy puffed rice but did not return home.
His family members began a search but failed to trace him. They lodged a missing complaint at Brahmapur police station (PS). Later, his body was found inside an abandoned building behind the market complex – near Manas’ shop – Saturday morning. Enraged locals accused Manas of beating the boy to death and dumping his body there.
Angry residents vandalised the shop and threw its goods away. A team from Berhampur PS, accompanied by a scientific team, reached the spot and recovered the body. However, family members and villagers refused to allow police to take it for post-mortem, demanding to recreate the crime scene.
They also blocked Berhampur-Tentu lia main road, demanding arrest of the accused. The road blockade was continuing when this report was filed. One platoon of police force was deployed to maintain law and order.
Nilagiri tehsildar officiating as magistrate Subhashree Jena, Berhampur PS IIC John Pattnaik and Remuna police station IIC Bimal Nayak reached the spot and tried to pacify the protesters. Police registered an unnatural death case (148/26) and detained Manas and two others for questioning. Police are examining CCTV footage from the shop to ascertain the circumstances leading to the boy’s death.
