Bhubaneswar: City police cracked the murder of a 72-year-old man whose skeletal remains were discovered in the forest of Chandaka wildlife sanctuary on Friday. The case, initially registered as an unnatural death, now led to the arrest of two persons, Kanhei Hembram and Rama Samada, both from the same village as the deceased. The deceased was identified as Balaram Deogam.
The motive behind the crime was the simmering suspicion of the accused about Balaram practising witchcraft, which they believed resulted in the death of Kanhei’s father. Police commissioner S Dev Datta Singh said the investigation involved a thorough forensic examination of the crime scene. “The identification of personal items found with the skeleton, such as a neck ornament and a lungi, by the victim’s son, Ram Charan Deogam, was crucial in confirming the identity of the deceased,” the commissioner said.
Kanhei Hembram, a forest watchman, believed that his father’s death was caused by witchcraft allegedly practised by Balaram. “Driven by a desire for revenge, Kanhei conspired with his friend, Rama, who harboured similar beliefs regarding his own father’s death,” police said.
On the night of Sept 30, the duo ambushed Balaram near his agricultural field. Kanhei kicked Balaram, causing him to fall, and then strangled him while Rama held his legs. The accused then buried the body in the forest and disposed of Balaram’s belongings in a nearby pond.
The police, acting on the accused’s confession, recovered key evidence, including a torch, water bottle, and lathi, from the banks of the pond. The accused were produced in court, and police applied for a 15-day remand to facilitate further probe.
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