Nabarangpur/Nandahandi: In a shocking incident, miscreants allegedly dug up the grave of a 27-year-old woman, severed her head and took it away after performing rituals and sacrificing two chickens at a burial ground in Narsinghguda village under Nandahandi block in Nabarangpur district.
The incident has triggered panic in the area, with villagers suspecting that the crime may be linked to occult practices. Sources said Nilandri Majhi of Narsinghguda village died of chickenpox September 26. As she had developed the symptoms, her family believed that she was possessed by a divine spirit. Instead of cremating her body, they buried it at the village burial ground. There is a local belief that a buried body can be used for occult rituals for up to 21 days. Fearing that someone might attempt to use the body for such practices, family members guarded the grave for 21 days. They stopped keeping watch after that period.
However, on the 42nd night after her burial, unidentified persons allegedly dug up the grave and decapitated the body. The matter came to the fore after villagers went to attend nature’s call Thursday morning and noticed that the grave had been disturbed.
Later, they informed the family members. Following discussions with villagers, family members reportedly reburied the body. On being informed, Tentulikhunti police reached the spot and advised the deceased woman’s brother, Abhimanyu Majhi, to lodge a formal complaint. Tentulikhunti IIC Harish Go lari said police were aware of the incident and would launch an investigation after receiving a written complaint.