Post News Network
Bhandaripokhari, Jan 22: A youth Wednesday night was found dead in the sanctum of Maa Subarnamukhi temple at Nerada of Bhandaripokhari block with his throat slit. The deceased was identified Dular Singh Majhi (30) of Silda village in Nuapada district.
He had come along with his wife and a child and other kin to the village. They were engaged in brick making work on the river bank. They have been working there for the last five weeks.
His kin told police that Dular was slightly crazy. For the last three to four days, he had shown unusual behaviour and had talked to the priest of the temple to perform a puja. However, priest Brajakishore Panda tried to dissuade him from doing puja.
His wife and child did not find him near them Wednesday night and searched for him frantically. Thursday morning, his body was found on the ‘astana’ (pedestal) of the goddess with his throat slashed and a marigold placed there in the temple.
On being informed, a police team comprising IIC Gyanaranjan Mishra, SDPO Sudhakar Jena and ASI Sudarshan Pradhan immediately rushed to the spot and started an investigation. It was suspected that Dular might have killed himself by slashing his throat with a sickle, which is usually kept in the temple to peel coconuts. Dular was working in the brick kiln of Prafulla Jena. Jena has lodged a complaint in this regard.
Police registered a case of unnatural death and sent the body to a Bhadrak hospital for post mortem. Police have seized the blood-stained sickle.
A scientific team also visited the place. Police also are investigating the suspected murder angle. The IIC said the reason for his death may be cleared only after the post mortem report. Daily rituals of the temple were disrupted due to the shocking incident. The priest said daily rituals will not be conducted in the temple until it was consecrated.
