Body of 34-year-old salesman found dead in canal in Bhubaneswar; family alleges murder

The decomposed body of a 34-year-old salesman was recovered on Monday from the Bahadalpur canal embankment on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, in what the victim’s family alleges was a planned murder. The deceased, identified as Jyoti Ranjan Behera, had been missing since Friday night. 

Locals spotted the body near the canal boundary, which lies on the border of Khandagiri and Airfield police station limits, and alerted authorities.

According to reports, Behera had picked up a call from his wife on Friday night and informed her that he would be returning home in half an hour after closing a shop he worked at. However, he did not return even past midnight, after which his phone was switched off. Family members launched a search operation for him, but it was all in vain.

“When I reached home at about 12 am, he was yet to arrive. No one at home knew about his whereabouts. I took a few of my friends and started searching for him. We went down this route towards his shop and also looked around the police station, but he was nowhere to be found,” said Biswaranjan Behera, the deceased’s elder brother.

Notably, Behera’s motorcycle was found abandoned close to the body. While investigators have not ruled out the possibility of an accident, initial suspicion points to foul play. Officers are examining whether Behera was killed elsewhere and the body was dumped in the canal.

“This morning at about 5 am, his friends called me and informed me that they had spotted his bike. The key was still in his vehicle, and there was no sign of any accident,” he added.

He also claimed his sibling was murdered due to prior business-related enmity. “He had no reason to disappear voluntarily. This was planned and executed,” he told reporters, demanding a thorough investigation.

Police Probe Underway

Senior officers from both Khandagiri and Airfield police stations visited the spot, and the body has been sent for post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death. Authorities have yet to confirm whether a formal case of murder will be registered pending forensic reports.