Nayagarh: Tension ran high at Mahipur under Nuagaon police station in Nayagarh Friday after the body of a youth was found hanging inside a nearby forest. Alleging that the youth was murdered in a preplanned way, his family members and locals accused the police of negligence in the mattter.
Angry people laid siege to the Khurda-Bolangir highway for six hours. During the agitation, women reportedly detained an ASI and beat him up.
According to reports, Ramesh Chandra Pradhan (32), a resident of Kanigiri Kaduasahi, was missing since March 1. His family had lodged a missing complaint at Nuagaon police station. However, his family alleged the police hardly did anything to trace the youth except interrogation some people.
His family said Raju Sahu of Krushnachandrapur had accompanied Ramesh to Muskabari to see a fair March 1. Since then, there was no trace of Ramesh. The family alleged Ramesh was murdered due to rivalry in business.
According to the complaint, Raju, Ramesh Mandal, Gangadhar Sahu and Ramesh’s elder brother had jointly purchased an earthmover. However, Raju had taken possession of the machine, claiming more money as his share in the joint business.
After the disappearance of Ramesh, the family sensed threat to their lives and took the matter with police.
The police, however, wanted to settle the matter through the local gentry. After Ramesh went missing, his family wanted the police to rescue him, but the IIC assured them that Ramesh was at a safe place and would return March 10, his family alleged.
Another allegation made by the family was that the IIC wanted the family to take back the complaint.
Friday morning, the body was found hanging in the forest. Angry locals blocked the highway for six hours, demanding a thorough investigation. SDPO Jayram Satpathy and local police rushed to the spot and assured the agitating people of an investigation following which the protesters relented.
Reports said police had found a cell phone from the spot, but ASI Nilakantha Parida handed it over to another person instead of keeping it for investigation. Angry over this, some women detained the ASI and thrashed him. Police managed to rescue him from the irate women.
Even as the situation still remains tense in the area, the SDPO said two persons were detained for interrogation. PNN