Bhubaneswar: The decomposed body of Sudhir Kumar Patra (47), a plot businessman from Berhampur who was kidnapped a week ago, was recovered on Wednesday morning near Rashipankal Bridge in Balipanka village under Sorada police limits in Ganjam district.
According to reports, locals spotted the body around 8 am on a jungle road, about 300 metres from the main road and immediately informed the Sorada police. After initial inspection, Sorada police alerted Berhampur police, suspecting a link to the ongoing kidnapping case. A team from Gopalpur police station, along with a scientific forensic team, reached the spot and conducted a thorough investigation.
Family members identified the body through the clothes worn by Patra and a bracelet on his hand. In the presence of a magistrate, police seized the body. It was later shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur for post-mortem before being handed over to the family in the evening.
It may be mentioned that Patra was abducted on the evening of April 15 near Bonagaon under Gopalpur police station. His wife, Rashmita Patra, lodged a complaint at Gopalpur police station following which police recovered his motorcycle from the spot. The kidnappers sent a video via WhatsApp to the family, showing Patra being subjected to severe torture. They fired blank shots in the video and demanded a ransom of Rs 2 crore. When Rashmita was taking cash and gold from home to deliver as per instructions, police tailed her discreetly.
The abductors made a video call asking her to show the bag containing the money near Aska. Shortly after, they called again, accused her of involving the police, and warned that Patra would never return. After that call, all communication from the kidnappers stopped.
Police sources indicate that the kidnapping and subsequent murder stemmed from a property dispute. Two blood relatives of the victim have been detained for questioning. Reports suggest that the main accused hired professional criminals from Surat, Delhi, and Mumbai for the operation.
Odisha DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania said the accused in this sensitive case have been identified and arrested. He assured that more details would be shared soon.
