Kamakhyanagar: A 52-year-old married woman was allegedly bludgeoned to death, with her mutilated body being recovered from a cashew grove near Kantioputsahi village under Tumusinga police station limits in Dhenkanal district Saturday.
Police have detained a local youth in connection with the murder after he reportedly confessed to the crime during questioning. The deceased was identified as Sanjukta Sahu, wife of Purandar Sahu of Kantioputsahi.
Following a complaint lodged by her husband, Tumusinga police registered a murder case (280/26) and launched an investigation.
According to her family, Sanjukta had gone to a neighbouring hamlet Friday evening to help with paddy seedling transplantation.
She did not return home even after it grew late, prompting her family members to search for her.
During the search, some villagers reportedly told the family that they had seen Sanjukta leaving near her house on a motorcycle with Bishnu Sahu, a local youth.
Her body was found in a cashew grove near the village the following morning, following which police began probing her movements and questioning people known to her.
Kamakhyanagar SDPO Chittaranjan Behera, Tumusinga police station inspector Manaswini Mohanty and a scientific team visited the spot and examined the scene.
Police subsequently questioned Bishnu, who reportedly confessed to killing Sanjukta, Inspector Mohanty said. He allegedly attacked her with a stone, causing fatal injuries.