Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Capital reported two separate suspicious deaths on Wednesday in different parts of the city, one involving an elderly woman, who was allegedly murdered by her caretaker, and the other the recovery of a decomposed, partially burnt body of an unidentified man.
In the Laxmisagar’s Buddhanagar area, 76-year-old Kunjalata Nanda was found dead inside her two-storey house. Widow of a retired divisional forest officer, she had been living alone for about six months after her husband’s death. Her two sons reside in the United States and Mumbai, while her two daughters are married and live elsewhere.
Tenants occupying another portion of the house became concerned on Wednesday morning when they found the iron grill gate locked from inside and got no response despite repeated attempts to contact her. They informed Nanda’s daughter, who alerted the police, who forced open the door and found the woman’s blood-soaked body with her hands and legs tied. Injury marks on her head and neck indicated she had been assaulted.
Police said cupboards had been ransacked and jewellery, cash and household items were missing, including the ornaments she had been wearing. A family two-wheeler was also gone. The caretaker, identified as Balabhadra Maharana from the Tangi area of Khorda district, who had been employed for the past four to six months after local police verification of his antecedents, was also missing.
Police noted there were no signs of forced entry, and the accused is believed to have locked the grill from outside before fleeing. He is also alleged to have disconnected the house’s CCTV cameras.
Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh described the case as an apparent murder for gain, with multiple teams conducting raids to apprehend the absconding caretaker. “A domestic help was staying at Nanda’s house for the last six months. We strongly suspect he is behind the crime and efforts are being made to nab him,” he added.
Bhubaneswar DCP Saravana Vivek M said investigation is underway to piece together the circumstances surrounding the incident, while suspect’s arrest and interrogation will help determine whether he acted alone or with accomplices.
Family members reported that around 40-50 grams of gold jewellery, approximately Rs 60,000 in cash and a scooter were missing.
Separately, the decomposed and partially burnt body of an unidentified man was recovered from a secluded, densely vegetated area near Kelu Charan Park in Gadakana locality, close to the boundary wall of a Railway Protection Force campus. Residents of the nearby RPF colony and park visitors alerted police after noticing a strong foul smell. Parts of the remains had turned black with some bones visible, and burn marks were evident on the body and clothing, leading residents to suspect an attempt to destroy evidence by fire.
Preliminary findings indicated the man may have died several days earlier, possibly up to a week or more. The DCP visited the site and said the isolated location sees little foot traffic. Police are examining all possibilities, including homicide, while reviewing nearby CCTV footage. Forensic and scientific teams from Mancheswar police station collected evidence, including skin, flesh and bone samples. Photographs of the remains have been circulated and missing persons records are being checked in an effort to identify the deceased.
The exact cause of death will be determined after post-mortem examination, he added.