Nabarangpur: Police have arrested a man in connection with the suspected rape and murder of a young woman in Chacharaguda village under Kodinga police station limits in Nabarangpur district.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, Nabarangpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Partha Jagdish Kashyap said the accused, identified as Dasarath Majhi, was detained for questioning on Monday based on suspicion regarding his involvement in the case. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to the crime.
The accused was produced before a local court on Tuesday. Police said he would be taken on remand for further questioning as the investigation progresses.
According to police, Dasarath Majhi and the deceased woman, identified as Chandra Bhattara, were known to each other. Investigators suspect that an argument broke out between them on the night of the incident. In a fit of rage, the accused allegedly slit the woman’s throat, causing her death.
Police further said that after the murder, the accused allegedly attempted to destroy evidence by disposing of the body in a well located on his property. He later tried to flee and remain in hiding, but was apprehended following a swift investigation by the police.
Given the seriousness of the case, the SP said the investigation would be conducted by an Inspector from the Investigative Units on Crime Against Women (IUCAW) attached to the District Police Office.
Meanwhile, a postmortem examination was conducted late Monday night at the Nabarangpur District Headquarters Hospital in the presence of a magistrate. Doctors Sumant Ranjan Bal and Monalisa Panigrahi carried out the autopsy.
Police said viscera and sperm samples have been collected and sent for forensic examination. The SP noted that the postmortem and forensic reports would determine whether the woman was sexually assaulted and help establish other aspects of the case, including the nature of the relationship between the accused and the deceased.
In a parallel development, Nabarangpur District Collector Maheshwar Swain has directed the Kosagumuda Block Development Officer (BDO) to assess the condition of the victim’s family and submit a report. The Collector said that if the family is found to be in financial distress, immediate assistance would be extended through the Red Cross and the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF).
Further investigation is underway.
