Nuapada: After three months of probe, the Sadar police claimed to have cracked the murder mystery of an elderly man whose mutilated body was found in a dam near Khairani village under Sadar police limits in this district September 26.
The deceased has been identified as Tularam Majhi of the same village. Preliminary probe revealed, the accused called Majhi on pretext of drinks and bludgeoned his to death with a stone after he was fully drunk. Later, they dumped the body in a dam.
The body was recovered 13 days back from Kendujhari dam, after three months of his missing. During probe, police learnt that the murder was fallout on over fallout on suspicion of practicing black magic.
While five persons were reportedly involved in the murder, the police managed to arrest two persons so far. The arrested were identified as Bharsingh Majhi (31) and the main accused Ramadas Majhi (45).
Three others involved in the murder are absconding. They have been identified as Niranjan Majhi (23), Bhagirathi Majhi (25) and Dinamani Majhi (22) and a manhunt has been launched to nab them.
According to the case diary, three girls in the village, including the main accused Ramadas’s daughter died of some fever one after another a few months back. However, Ramadas suspected Majhi of performing sorcery and killing his daughter.
In an act of revenge, he hatched a plan to eliminate him. He later instigated the four other villagers who also suspected Majhi of doing witchcraft.
As per plan, the five called Majhi for drinking session September 26. After he was fully drunk, the five bludgeoned him and dumped his blood-soaked body in the dam.
Failing to trace his whereabouts, Majhi’s family members lodged a missing complaint with Nuapada police. After days of search, the police recovered the body December 7.
A manhunt has been launched to nab the three absconding accused, the police said.
PNN
