The district administration officials and police on Friday exhumed the body of a youth in the forests near a remote village in Kandhamal three days after the latter went missing under mysterious circumstances.
As per reports, the police suspect that Chaityanya Pujari, a resident of Pangurumila Village under Baliguda block had been killed by his own father Bhaskar Pujari who was peeved at the former’s addiction to alcohol and substance abuse which created trouble in the entire family.
Bhaskar had allegedly buried the body in the forest. The police have detained Bhaskar and his other two sons for questioning.
The matter came to light when the Sarpanch suspected foul play after he found Chaitanya missing from the village for quite some time. He subsequently informed the police. Police said that Bhaskar has confessed to have killed his son on September 14 and later buried the body in the forest near his house.
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On Friday, he reportedly led the Tehsildar and police to the spot where he had buried the body.
Bhaskar meanwhile, claimed that he did not kill his son who died by suicide. He merely disposed off the body without the knowledge of his family members, including his other two sons.
“I did not kill him (Chaitanya). He had committed suicide by hanging himself in the forest,” claimed Bhaskar.
However, Bhaskar admitted to have dumped his son’s body in the forest without the knowledge of anybody in the family and villagers.
Meanwhile, the Tehsildar at Baliguda, Sashank Patra said that the exact reason behind the death of the youth will be ascertained only after a detailed investigation by the police.
“On the request of police, I visited the spot where the body was buried. It was exhumed from that spot. Some injury marks were found on the eyes and back of the deceased. The exact reason behind the death can be ascertained only after post mortem,” said Patra.