Engagement shoot turns tragic: Videographer found dead in pond in Dhenkanal; family alleges murder

A man, who had reportedly travelled to Mukhtapashi for an engagement video shoot, was found dead in a pond near the Mukhtapashi Math under Kamakhyanagar police limits in Dhenkanal district on Friday. The deceased has been identified as Rajesh Kumar Pani, a resident of Saanda village under Parjang police station.

According to sources, Rajesh got a call on Thursday to cover a ring ceremony and had reached Mukhtapashi, informing his family that he had an engagement shoot assignment.  However, when he did not return home till late evening, his worried family members searched for him at various places and later lodged a missing person complaint at Parjang police station, sources added.

A day later, Rajesh’s body was found floating in a pond near the Mukhtapashi Math. Family members rushed to the spot after receiving the information and alleged that Rajesh had been murdered.

“Rajesh is my nephew. He was running a studio, and his son is in class 9. He was called to shoot a ring ceremony at Mukhtapashi. We suspect he was called intentionally and his body was dumped in the pond after murdering him,” alleged Sunil Kumar Pani, a relative of the deceased.

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Police have recovered the body and begun a detailed investigation. An official response from the police on the alleged murder is yet to be received.