Keonjhar, July 5 (UDN): A couple who had been missing for more than a week was allegedly murdered on suspicion of practising witchcraft, with their bodies recovered from a village well in Odisha’s Keonjhar district. Police have arrested five persons in connection with the gruesome crime.
The incident took place at Baliparbat village under the jurisdiction of Daitari Police Station. The deceased were identified as Khageswar Soren and his wife, Tuni Soren, who had been missing since June 27.
According to police, an investigation was launched after the couple’s family reported their disappearance. During the probe, a local youth was detained for questioning over his suspected involvement in the case. His interrogation reportedly led investigators to a well in the village, where the bodies of the missing couple were recovered.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were allegedly murdered over suspicions that they were practising witchcraft. The accused allegedly tied the hands and legs of the couple before dumping their bodies into the well in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime.
Police have arrested five persons in connection with the double murder. Four of the accused have been identified as Siba Munda, Rengo Banra, Ganesh Hansda and Anup Hembram, while the identity of the fifth accused has not yet been disclosed.
The bodies were sent for post-mortem examination, and forensic evidence has been collected from the scene. Police have registered a case under relevant provisions of law and are investigating the circumstances that led to the killings, including the role of each accused.
Senior police officials said the incident appeared to have been triggered by superstition and reiterated that strict action would be taken against those involved. They also appealed to people not to believe in witchcraft-related practices and to report such incidents to the authorities.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the persistence of witchcraft-related violence in some tribal and rural areas despite sustained awareness campaigns and legal measures aimed at curbing such crimes.