Pradeep Pattanayak

The mystery shrouding the recovery of three women’s hanging bodies at Tohara village under Umerkote police limits in Nabarangpur district still remains unsolved even after three days. 

The police are yet to establish the cause leading to the death, much less zeroing in on any accused. 

A team comprising three IICs of as many police stations and an SDPO has been investigating into the case. But them being tight-lipped on the progress of the investigation is only testing the patience of the bereaved family members and the villagers.   

Notably, Hemalata Gouda (23), Koushalya Majhi (17) and Phulamati Majhi (19) from Tohara village found hanging from a tree in a nearby jungle on April 9 night.  

While the family members of the deceased are still trying to come to the terms with the incident, the suspense over cause of death has left them asking for answers to several questions like if it was a case of suicide, what drove the trio to take an extreme step? If it was a case of murder, what was the cause and who are behind it? 

“We are still trying to find out what led them to end lives. And the police are also keeping mum about the youth they have detained in this regard,” said Pramila Gouda, mother of Hemalata. Deceased Koushalya’s father Ramdhar Majhi also shared Pramila’s statement. 

The villagers said they had seen the trio roaming around the village on a scooty. Few hours later, their bodies were spotted. “How this could be possible?” asked the villagers. 

Meanwhile, the investigating team comprising Umerkote SDPO and IICs of Nabarangpur, Umerkote and Dabugaon police stations has detained a youth of Chandahandi area on the basis of call records retrieved from Phulamati’s mobile phone.  

“We demand immediate arrest of the miscreants involved and justice for the trio,” said Tohra village head Jalandhar Majhi. 

Umerkote Tehsildar Jagat Jeevan Choudhury informed that the local administration had provided Rs 10, 000 each to the bereaved families. The money was provided from the Red Cross fund, he said. 

Meanwhile, Nabarangpur MP Ramesh Majhi on Tuesday visited three families. 
 

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