Dhenkikote: A 45-yearold man was brutally hacked to death by unidentified assailants in Keonjhar district, police said Saturday.
The deceased, identified as Bhagirathi Palei of Pitaputi village under Harichandanpur police limits, had gone out Friday night but did not return home. Family members searched for him through the night but could not trace his whereabouts.
His body was found lying in a pool of blood on a paddy field near his house Saturday morning by villagers. The family later identified the body and informed Harichandanpur police. Police said the victim had sustained severe head injuries, leading to excessive bleeding and death at the spot.
On receiving information, local police informed senior officials. Acting on directions from Keonjhar Superintendent of Police Nitin Kushalkar, a team led by SDPO Bijay Krushna Mohapatra, along with a scientific team and sniffer dogs, reached the spot and began an investigation.
A murder case (89/26) has been registered at Harichandanpur police station. Police have detained three to five persons for questioning, though no arrest has been made so far. The body was handed over to the family after the post-mortem. The accused are absconding and efforts are on to trace them, police said.