Bhawanipatna: An elderly man was brutally killed Saturday at Cheramuhul village under Talajaring panchayat and Junagarh police limits in Kalahandi district following an argument over palm reading, police said.
The victim was identified as Rath Kandapan, 60, of Talajaring. Police said Kandapan had gone to a nearby forest to collect firewood when he met Ratna Majhi, 40, of the same village.
Known locally for reading palms, Kandapan reportedly read Majhi’s palm and made remarks that enraged him.
Majhi then allegedly went home, returned with an axe and struck Kandapan on the head before dumping the body in a dried up well, police said. Junagarh police, along with a scientific team, reached the scene and began an investigation.
Kalahandi Superintendent of Police Nagraj Deverakonda was also present. The victim’s wife, Purnima, lodged a written complaint naming Majhi as the assailant.
Police have registered a case (552/25) and detained the accused for questioning. After post-mortem examination, the body was handed over to the family members, Junagarh IIC Sesadeb Behera said.
PNN