Deogarh: In a shocking incident, a 50-year-old man allegedly killed his friend and surrendered before the police after locking the body in his house at a village in Odisha’s Deogarh district.
As per sources, the incident took place at Nuagaon village in Barkote area of the district late on Friday. The deceased has been identified as Ratan Pradhan (50), while the accused, Panchanan Suhula (50) surrendered before police after committing the crime.
Locals said Ratan and two of his friends – Swapneswar Dehury and Sunil Bhanja – were consuming liquor near Panchanan’s house. An altercation broke out among them around midnight. Angry over the noise, Panchanan reportedly invited them into his house, where he allegedly attacked Ratan with a sharp weapon killing him on the spot., while the other two managed to escape.
Panchanan later surrendered at Deogarh police station and handed over the murder weapon. Ratan’s body was found with his throat slit. During initial interrogation, he reportedly claimed that he killed Ratan as a ritualistic offering to appease deities at his home.
Following the incident, angry villagers gathered at the house of the accused and vandalised the property.
Police personnel have been deployed in the area to prevent any further flare up. Investigation into the incident is in progress.
