Bhadrak: A half-eaten body of a youth was found in the banks of Baitarani River near Nedhuali village under Chandbali block of Bhadrak district last evening.
According to sources, the deceased Hemant Majhi had gone to his farmland Friday morning. When he did not return home till 2 PM, his family members started a frantic search, failing which they then informed the villagers. Following hours of search operation in the river with the help of a boat, Majhi's upper body was spotted near the river bed close to his farmland.
With crocodiles being the inhabitants of the river, the villagers have alleged that Majhi might have been dragged into the river and eaten up by the reptile.
A villager Pradeep Sutar said, “He had gone to the farmland last morning. But when we did not see him for long, we started looking for him. We also searched him in the river only to find the upper part of his dead body floating near the river bank. A crocodile was also nearby and I think it might have eaten him.”
On being informed, Revenue Inspector (RI) of Sarana, Jogendrabandhu Majhi rushed to the village and assured help to Majhi's family members to avail government’s compensation. “We will inform the matter to the Tehsildar and take every step possible to ensure Majhi's family members receive compensation,” assured the RI.