Bodies Go Missing From Burial Ground In Odisha Village; Probe Launched

Bhadrak: In a shocking development, bodies buried at a village cremation ground in Odisha’s Bhadrak district have reportedly gone missing, leaving the locals apprehensive.

According to sources, incidents of dead bodies disappearing were reported from the cremation ground at Maninathpur village, located close to Baitarani river, under Bhandaripokhari block of the district.

Three dead bodies have reportedly gone missing from the cremation ground in the last two months. While one Srikanta Behuria had died two months ago, two others – Akshaya Behera and Dinabandhu Nath passed away in last 20 days.

Their last rites were performed and the bodies buried at the cremation ground by the relatives of the deceased.

However, to the utter surprise of the family members and villagers, the three bodies have stated to have gone missing from the cremation ground.

Claiming that the body of his father has disappeared from the cremation ground, Behera’s son said the family members were shocked over the incident. “We want justice,” he said.

A villager said that wild animals were not behind the disappearance of the bodies as the burials were covered with the dug up soil after the act.“It cannot be the act of wild animals. Villagers are scared over these incidents,” he said.

The incidents came to light after some children found that some portions of the ground appeared to have been dug up. Similar incident had been reported in the village a few years ago.

The family members of the deceased have lodged a complaint with the police and an investigation has been launched. Police personnel also visited the site as part of the probe.