Odisha man killed over witchcraft suspicions, mutilated body found dumped in reservoir
The mutilated body of a missing man was recovered from Harabhangi Dam near Rachaguda village in Gajapati district on Sunday. The victim, identified as Gopal Mallik, was allegedly murdered by fellow villagers who suspected him of practising witchcraft.
According to reports, the 40-year-old had been missing for the past several days. On Sunday morning, his body was found with hands and legs tied, floating in the reservoir.
Police sources stated that his genitals had also been mutilated, indicating brutal assault before death. The incident is believed to have been triggered by the recent death of a woman from the same village, which led some locals to accuse Gopal of causing her demise through sorcery.
Murder Fueled by Superstition
The background of the case points to an incident around 15 days ago when the wife of a local resident, Subas Mallik, passed away under unclear medical circumstances. Her death reportedly led to suspicions against Gopal Mallik, who some believed to be responsible due to alleged occult practices.
Acting on this belief, Subas and a group of other young men from the village allegedly summoned Gopal to the Harabhangi Dam area on Saturday, according to preliminary investigation reports.
There, they tied him up, assaulted him, and dumped his body in the water. The crime came to light only after Gopal’s family filed a missing person’s complaint, leading to a probe.
Arrests and Recovery
Mohana police detained and interrogated 16 individuals from the village based on preliminary allegations and family statements. After sustained questioning, four key suspects reportedly confessed to their involvement and led the police to the exact location in the dam where the body had been dumped.
The fire services team assisted in retrieving the corpse, which was found in a decomposed state, confirming foul play. Forensic teams were called in to examine the site, and the body has been sent for post-mortem to establish the precise cause of death.
Police Probe Underway
Speaking to the media, Mohana Sub-Inspector Sunil Sethi confirmed that an investigation is underway and emphasised that the accused will be prosecuted under appropriate sections of the BNS, including murder and criminal conspiracy.
"During a search for the missing man, we apprehended the four people whom his family had named in the FIR for alleged kidnapped. They subsequently confessed that they killed the man and dumped his body in the Adaba reservoir."