Minor boy ‘kills’ stepfather with help of friends in Odisha

In a disturbing incident of family conflict turning fatal, a 15-year-old boy allegedly killed his stepfather with the help of two friends in Hanuman Hatting area under Ward No 10 of Joda Municipality in Keonjhar district, on Sunday.

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According to sources, the deceased man, 45-year-old Manoj Kalandi, had been living with his second wife and her teenage son for the past five years, while his first wife continued to reside in their native village. Manoj had frequent quarrels with his stepson, and tensions in the household had been escalating.

On the morning of the incident, as Manoj was heading out on his scooter, the boy and two of his friends allegedly launched a surprise attack, striking him with a pipe and stabbing him with a sharp weapon. Manoj succumbed to his injuries on the spot.

Manoj had kept a widow as his wife in his house for the past 5 years. That second wife also had a 15-year-old minor son living with them. However, due to some reasons, the son did not get along with his stepfather.

There were frequent arguments between them. Today morning, at around 9.30 AM, while Manoj was going out on a scooter to have breakfast, he was suddenly attacked by the boy, the sources added.

The Joda police have launched an intensive manhunt to trace and apprehend the three accused, who fled the scene immediately after the attack. The crime motive is believed to be deep-seated resentment and continued conflict in the family.

“When they (the accused) attacked, I rushed to the spot and saw that my son was killed. They had attacked with both a sharp weapon and a pipe. My son, who was sitting on the vehicle, suddenly collapsed on the ground,” Manoj’s father Kalia Kalandi said.

“My daughter-in-law is staying in our village. He was residing here with another woman,” the deceased’s father expressed.