Kodala: In a horrific incident, a 23-year-old history-sheeter raped his 42-year-old mother and subsequently hanged her from the ceiling in his house at Badarkhapali village under Kodala police limits in Ganjam district Tuesday night. The accused was identified as Papun Rout alias Sambhu, son deceased Laxmi Rout.
The matter came to the fore Wednesday after locals spotted Laxmi’s body and nabbed Sambhu who confessed to the heinous crime before police. He said he raped his mother under the influence of alcohol but refuted to have murdered her.
However, locals including Sambhu’s elder brother Kailash Rout claimed Sambhu was a regular offender and demanded stringent action against him. He was an alcoholic and often harassed his widowed mother over money.
He reportedly returned home in an inebriated state and forced himself on her. He assaulted her when she tried to push him away. He stripped her of her clothes and then raped her, sources said.
According to police, Laxmi lost her husband two years ago. Since then, she resided alone and worked as an Asha worker. Aware of his mother’s plight, elder son Kailash got married and left home to work as a bonded labourer outside the state. However, Sambhu, without a regular income, wandered in the village. He did not do any work and depended on his mother for money. He often abused her demanding money for drinks.
He was involved in anti-social activities and was put behind bars. After being released from jail, Sambhu returned home in an inebriated state while his mother was sleeping alone.
Taking the advantage, he raped her and beat her up when she opposed his advances. Locals on their way to farmland spotted Laxmi’s hanging body on the wee hours of Wednesday and alerted police.
Kodala ASI Biswanath Jhali and ASI LN Behera reached the village and arrested Sambhu who confessed to have raped Laxmi but declined murder.
Police registered a case and sent the body for post-mortem. The exact revelation will be made after the arrival of the post-mortem report, police said adding that a further investigation was launched. PNN
