Bhubaneswar Murder: Accused Put Vermillion On Priyanka’s Head Before Slitting Her Throat

Bhubaneswar: Airfield Police interrogated Jagannath Pradhan, who was arrested for the gruesome murder of Priyanka Priyadarshini Sahu in the city’s Bhimtangi area, after his discharge from AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

“The accused has confessed his crime to police interrogators and also revealed details about the murder,” Bhubaneswar DCP Umashankar Dash told the media.

According to the DCP, the accused told police that he had made up his mind to kill Priyanka and her three-year-old son and then commit suicide. Pradhan had even written a suicide note four days before the murder, he added.

Revealing details of the murder, the DCP said, “The accused arrived in Bhubaneswar from Jajpur on July 5. He then went to Priyanka’s house and carried a chocolate packet, cold drinks, a knife, a packet of poison and vermillion with him. After entering the house, he found Priyanka with her son. Later, he took a selfie with them. Meanwhile, the house owner, who stays on the first floor, came downstairs and knocked on the door. Hearing the knock, Jagannath hid inside the bathroom. The house owner gave Priyanka a bowl of dahibara and took her son with him. After the house owner left the room, the accused came out of the bathroom and urged Priyanka to elope with him. But Priyanka refused to do so and this led to an altercation between them. The accused then applied vermillion on Priyanka’s forehead and slit her throat with the knife, killing her on the spot. Later, he tried to commit suicide by cutting the vein of his hand.”

He said that the accused will be forwarded to the court later in the day.

Police had arrested Jagannath from the house a few hours after Priyanka’s murder and admitted him to Capital Hospital due to heavy loss of blood. Although he recovered from the self-inflicted injury, the hospital authorities had referred him to AIIMS for plastic surgery on his hand.

Also Read: Bhubaneswar Murder Case: Accused Jagannath Pradhan Admitted To AIIMS