Mohana: Police Thursday busted the murder mystery of Mini Dalabehera (31), a lady sarpanch candidate of Baghamari village whose half-burnt body was recovered from a dense forest near Sagada hill under Mohana police limits in Gajapati district.
Police arrested main accused Sudhir Gomango (36) who confessed to have committed the crime during police interrogation. Preliminary police investigation revealed it was a case of love betrayal and not political rivalry. Police revealed the murder plot before mediapersons at a press meet held at Mohana police station.
According to police, Sudhir was a traditional healer. He travelled from village to village and treated people. Meanwhile, he met Mini and developed an illicit affair with her. A fight continued between the two as Sudhir suspected her of cheating him and not giving time. The two had a fight over phone over the issue.
In an act of revenge, Sudhir hatched a plan to eliminate her. As per the plan, he called her to meet him in Sagada hill. Believing him, Mini left home informing her family members that she was going to withdraw money from the local Canara Bank for the panchayat election expenses.
However, she reached the hill to meet Sudhir. Meanwhile, again a fight broke out between the two in the hill. Furious Sudhir took an iron-rod and hit Mini on her head leading to her death on the spot. Later, he snatched her mangalasutra, a locket, chain, two ear-rings, silver anklet, mobile phone and vanity bag before setting her on fire.
Late in the night, he went to Canara Bank and hanged her vanity bag on the bank gate and threw away the SIM card. He dug a hole near his house where he hid the looted things.
Police registered a missing person’s complaint and launched an investigation. A woman grazing cattle in the hill spotted the body and alerted police who later seized it and sent it for post-mortem. Acting on a tip-off, police arrested Sudhir and produced him in a court.
Further investigation into the incident is on, SP Sushil Kumar Panigrahy said. PNN
