Nayagarh: The decapitated body of a missing student was discovered inside an abandoned well at Belpada village under Gania police station limits in Odisha’s Nayagarh district on Wednesday.
The deceased has been identified as ten-year-old son of Bijay Mallick. He was studying in Class V at Belpada Primary school. The incident has outraged locals, who staged a demonstration and road blockade at Kantilo-Daspalla road, demanding swift action.
According to sources, the student had left Belpada Primary school after eating the mid-day meal lunch around 1 am to relieve himself on Tuesday afternoon. He did not return to the school till dispersal alarming the students and staff who informed his family. This prompted frantic searches by family members and villagers. Their worst fears were confirmed when the body was eventually located in an abandoned well. His body was found with multiple injury marks including neck and ears chopped off, raising suspicions of foul play.
The Gania police immediately reached the spot after being alerted. The body was retrieved from the well and sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death.
Authorities have launched a detailed investigation, with officers questioning locals and gathering evidence from the site. The police have assured that all angles, including possible criminal involvement, are being thoroughly probed.
The family of the deceased alleged that the staff at the school allegedly refused to let the student use the bathroom inside the school. They have alleged that it is unsafe to allow a student to step outside the premises of the school to attend a nature’s call.
