Berhampur: A spurned lover allegedly hacked a 17-year-old girl, Priti Sahu, to death at Karapalli village under Gopalpur police limits in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Thursday morning.
The youth has been identified as Munna Khan of Jatni area in Khurda district.
According to sources, the accused barged into the girl’s house, hit her on the head with a sabaḷa (a weapon, consisting of a long wooden or metal shaft having a pointed end) and then slit her wrist using a blade. The girl was alone at home at the time of the incident as her parents were at an eatery being run by them. They found her blood-soaked body inside the house upon returning.
On being informed, police reached the spot and sent the body for postmortem. The youth has been detained for questioning on the basis of a complaint lodged by the victim’s family and weapons used in the crime have also been seized.
The victim’s family alleged that the accused had been stalking and harassing her and a complaint was earlier filed with the police regarding the youth’s behaviour, but no strong action was taken. A village meeting was also conducted to resolve the issue but the accused continued to threaten them.
Priti and Munna’s sister were classmates at Berhampur ITI.
“A DSP-level officer is leading the investigation. We are ensuring the swiftest possible action,” said Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M.
