Patnagarh: More than two and a half years after the infamous Patnagarh wedding gift explosion which had hogged the headlines across the country, the residents of this small town in Odisha woke to a spine-chilling 'murders' of six members of a family.
The six-member family including a couple and their four children were found dead inside their house at Sanrapada under Patnagarh police limits in Bolangir district today. They were identified as Bulu Jani (50), his wife Jyoti (38), daughters Sarita (12), Sriya (3), sons Bhisma (5) and Sanjeev (2).
The grievous injuries on their bodies suggested that they were brutally hacked with sharp weapons. A metal pot placed near the bodies indicating observance of some rituals has also deepened the mystery. A clear picture over the motive of the murders is yet to emerge.
“The case is being investigated from different aspects. We are trying to find out what had happened at the house the previous day and whether there was any eyewitness to the murder. Different squads have been given different responsibilities,” said Bolangir SP M Sandeep Sampat.
According to sources, the family originally hailed from Bihar, but had been living in Patnagarh for the last 10 years. Bulu, the head of the family had been earning a living by selling honey and bangles.
The incident came to light after neighbours raised suspicion that none from the family came out of the house till 10 am today. After searching the house, they witnessed that the bodies of all the six members were wrapped in a blanket.
Lalit Pasayat, a neighbour of the family said, “Some locals of our area first raised doubt after not a single member from the family were spotted till 10 am today. Later, we contacted the police.”
“All the deceased have injury marks in the backside of their heads which indicate that they were attacked with sharp objects. Circumstantial evidence hints that it is murder,” said Patnagarh Tehsildar, Puspanjali Panda
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)