Bhubaneswar: In a shocking incident, a 16-year-old boy was found dead with gunshot wound on the head while on a hunting trip in a forest in Kandhamal district.
The deceased has been identified as Bibhuti Kanhar, a Class X student from Budani village under Kusumendi Panchayat. Bibhuti had recently appeared for the Class X board examination at Ranapatuli High School under Khajuripada block.
According to police sources, Bibhuti, along with Pratap Kahar (25) and Suman Bindhani (20), left the village around 9 pm on Saturday for hunting in a nearby forest, approximately one kilometre away. They had informed their families that they would return by Sunday morning. When none of them returned, the family members became anxious and went into the jungle to search. They discovered Bibhuti’s body lying in a pool of blood with a bullet injury on his head. Hundreds of villagers rushed to the spot upon hearing the news.
Bibhuti’s father, Madhab Kanhar, lodged a complaint at Tikabali police station. Upon being informed, police recovered the body and sent it to Phulbani District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem.
Pratap and Suman, who had accompanied Bibhuti, are currently absconding. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation.
Only Pratap was reportedly carrying a country-made gun at the time of incident. Police have launched a manhunt for the accused. The exact motive or circumstances of the incident will become clear once the post-mortem report is received.
