Phulbani: Police Friday busted the murder mystery of a nine-year-old boy who was murdered by his brothers and subsequently buried last Friday at Masapadar village under Sadar police limits in Kandhamal district Friday. The deceased was identified as Badrinath (9), son of Biswanath Pradhan.
Police registered a case and arrested two youths in this connection. The accused were identified as Rajnarayan Pradhan and Pruthviraj Pradhan of the same village. “The exact reason of the murder will be ascertained on the arrival of post-mortem reports,” said police.
According to police, the incident occurred on March 12, 2016. Family members of Badrinath searched for him in vain after he failed to return home till late in the night.
Later, Biswanath lodged a missing complaint March 14, 2016 at Sadar police limits. Police registered a case based on a complaint by Biswanath and recorded his statement. Biswanath stated that Pruthviraj had met Badrinath the fateful day.
Police detained two youths who confessed to murdering and subsequently burying the minor boy in a graveyard. Pruthviraj confessed to have buried the body near a graveyard on the banks of the Salunki River.
SDPO Prabhat Chandra Panigrahi, inspector-in-charge Umakant Pradhan, Sadar inspector-in-charge Raut, Magistrate alias local Tehsildar Priya Ranjan Prusty reached the graveyard to exhume the body Friday. The body was exhumed from the graveyard in the presence of officials and was sent for post-mortem.
The incident spread shockwaves in the area. “The accused are my nephews and I cannot imagine how and why they committed this murder,” said Biswanath.
“Pruthviraj had asked for some money for his sister’s marriage but I had declined him politely,” said Biswanath, adding this might be the reason for his son’s murder. Biswanath demanded that the duo be hanged till death.
Meanwhile, police said Badrinath used to mingle with the two accused. Biswanath had admonished them for trying to corrupt his son. Later, Pruthviraj in a fit of rage, planned to murder Badrinath, police said. PNN
