'Double murder' shocks Keonjhar: Bodies of ex-sarpanch, husband found in well; probe launched

Unidentified miscreants allegedly killed a former woman sarpanch and her husband at their home and subsequently dumped their bodies in a well. The shocking incident has been reported from Mayurnacha village under Hatadihi block of Keonjhar district.

On being informed, police recovered the bodies and sent them for autopsy while a probe into the incident has been launched.

According to sources, Niranjan Patra worked as a ‘Gram Rakhi’ at local police outpost and lived with his wife Rambha Patra, the former sarpanch of K Baliapal panchayat. It is believed that the miscreants barged into their house late Tuesday night and brutally killed them.

The matter came to the fore after locals found the couple missing from their house and launched a frantic search. Later, bloodstains were spotted and it was learnt that the miscreants had dumped their bodies into a well in the house's backyard.

On being informed, police recovered the bodies and registered a case based on a complaint by the deceased’s nephew. Even as it is evident that the couple was brutally killed, police are yet to zero in on the miscreants.

The exact reason for the brutal murder is yet to be known, police said adding that a probe was on.