Missing minor boy found dead; irate villagers set police van on fire in Odisha’s Angul

Tension flared up at Subarnapur village under Kiakata police limits in Angul district after the decomposed body of a minor boy, who had gone missing on July 22, was found hanging from a tree on Friday. The irate villagers set a police van on fire alleging a tardy investigation.  

According to a source, Sanjeev Biswal (13), a Class VII student, along with his mother Basanti Biswal had visited their relative’s house in nearby Tusur village on July 22. During his stay, he fell ill. As per the traditional practice to seek blessings from the presiding deity, Sanjeev and his mother went to sleep at the Mangala Kothi. The Mangala Kothi is a special room where Goddess Mangala is worshipped. The next morning, he was found missing. The family members launched a frantic search for him. Unable to find him anywhere, Basanti lodged a missing complaint at Kiakata Police Station on July 24. 

The villagers today found Sanjeev’s decomposed body hanging from a tree in Barini forest. As the news spread, the villagers came out and staged a road blockade at Barini Square. When a team from the Kiakata Police Station reached the spot they had to face the ire of the villagers. The angry villagers vented their ire at the police van by setting it on fire. 

Meanwhile, on the basis of the allegations made by the family members, the police have detained one person. 

At the time of filing this report, tension was still prevailing in the locality with the villagers continuing with the road blockade demanding justice.