Korei: A body of a minor girl suspected to be raped and subsequently murdered was recovered from a pond in Fajalpur village near here in Jajpur district Tuesday, police said.
Korei IIC Chinmayee Sahu along with a police team reached the village and launched a probe. The body was then seized and sent for post-mortem to Dangadi community health centre (CHC).
The girl was identified as Margarita (name changed) of Mahuria Sahi under Sadakpur panchayat.
Family members searched for the girl after she did not return home till late in the evening. Later, a local spotted the body floating in the pond and alerted the villagers.
Later, the body was recovered with her scarf wrapped around her neck, her mouth gagged and limbs tied, confirming this to be a murder preceded by rape.
Sources said, the girl was alone at her house with her younger brother in the house. Her mother was away to her grandfather’s place while her father, an ambulance driver, had been to Jajpur district hospital carrying a patient.
Family members said the girl was in a relationship with a local youth Laden. She was talking to the youth alongside the river when the incident occurred.
It was not immediately known if the incident occurred after Laden left or if the he was behind the murder. Meanwhile, the girl’s family members accused the victim’s uncle Abhimanyu of behind the murder over some previous enmity.
Moreover, involvement of cattle traders was suspected as the former was camping on a ground near the girl’s house with a herd of 200 cattle.
Police detained four persons including the girl’s uncle, a village youth and two cattle traders for interrogation. They have been identified as the girl’s uncle Abhimanyu, the two traders Sheikh Hanan Ali and Multan Ali and the local youth Laden.
