Odisha man’s headless body recovered from riverbank

A man’s headless body was recovered from a riverbank in Badimunda village under Tikabali police limits in Kandhamal district. The deceased has been identified as Pabitra Pradhan.

On being informed, cops from Tikabali Police Station, led by a Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) from G. Udayagiri, rushed to the village and launched a probe into the incident. A scientific team, sniffer dogs, also assisted in finding evidence and searching for the missing head.

While cops are yet to ascertain the reason for the death, preliminary reports suggest Pradhan was decapitated over suspected previous enmity.

What the Deceased's Family Says

As per family members, Pradhan had gone to the riverbank to graze goats but failed to return home, prompting the subsequent search.

“Like every day, he had gone to graze goats near the riverbank. We grew suspicious after he did not return in the evening. His phone was ringing, but he wasn’t receiving our calls. So, we searched for him and found his headless body,” said Pradhan’s daughter.

She demanded her father’s murderer be caught and hanged to death.

“We demand the accused to be hanged to death,” she added.

Initial assessments by the investigating team suggest the murder may have stemmed from personal enmity. Officers suspect the use of a sharp weapon in the brutal act.

Police Investigation On:

“We have launched a probe. Neither his family nor the villagers give credible information for the investigation. But, the preliminary probe and circumstances suggest that he was killed over previous enmity. This is a clear-cut case of murder,” the SDPO told media persons.