Loisingha: In a horrific incident, a mentally-challenged youth hacked two women, including his mother, to death at Rota village under Agalpur block in Bolangir district in the wee hours of Monday.
The accused Dayanidhi Bariha alias Kabi, son of Nura and Pichu Bariha, first killed a woman in the neighbourhood while she was returning home after fetching drinking water. Later, he returned home and hacked his mother to death.
Villagers overpowered the accused and tied him to a pole before handing him over to the police.
The victims were identified as Sarojini Matari, wife of Biranchi Matari, and Dayanidhi’s mother Nura Bariha.
Loisingha police rushed to the spot and detained Dayanidhi, IIC Lilima Lalita Lakra said. A case was registered in this connection and further investigations were on, the IIC said.
Police said Dayanidhi started behaving in an irrational manner after he was diagnosed with a mental disorder seven years ago. As a result, his wife deserted him and went back to her native village to live with her parents. Locals said even though Dayanidhi displayed irrational behaviour, he never attacked anyone in past.
His condition, however, deteriorated as he harassed his family members all through Sunday night. The accused even attacked his father in the middle of the night and tried to bite his throat. His father raised an alarm and called his neighbours for help. However, no one responded as everybody was asleep at that time.
The incident occurred when Sarojini was returning home after drawing water from a tube-well near the village school. Dayanidhi suddenly attacked her by delivering sharp blows on her head with a sharp-edged hand tool.
Profusely bleeding, she collapsed on the spot and died. Dayanidhi then fled the scene and went to sleep on the verandah of neighbour wearing only a brief. The house owner, who was not aware of the killing, asked Dayanidhi to go back home.
Dayanidhi went back home and hacked his mother to death.
The incident coming two days after Nuakhai festival, when the whole village was in a celebratory mood, has triggered panic and tension in the area. Women have refused to step out and chose to stay indoors with their children by bolting the doors from inside. PNN