Baragada: Police in Odisha’s Baragada have solved the mystery surrounding the death of a woman, whose body was recovered near Bisipali bridge on Satalama road under Barpali police limits on June 21, with the arrest of a 56-year-old man.
Following a written complaint lodged by Raghab Naik, husband of Satalma Gram Panchayat Sarpanch, Barpali police registered a case and launched an investigation. Three special teams led by the Bargarh SDPO, the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Barpali police station and the IIC of Town police station, along with personnel from the district cyber cell, were formed.
During the investigation, police used social media inputs, cyber analysis and local intelligence to identify the deceased as Mamata Hota (57), wife of Fakir Mohan Hota of Sahajbahal village under Deogaon police limits in Balangir district. Scientific evidence and cyber tracking led police to the accused, identified as Ramakanta Pujari of Beheramal village under Dunguripali police limits in Sonpur district. He was subsequently apprehended.
Speaking on the breakthrough, Baragada SP Rabindra Nath Satpathy stated that the victim and the accused had been involved in long-standing financial dealings. The dispute escalated when the accused refused to return the money, ultimately leading him to plan and execute the crime. “She demanded her money back amid the ongoing Sitala Sasthi celebrations. Following which, he took her on his moped around the town and killed her using a tangiya early next morning,” he said.
The SP added that police had recovered the items hidden by the accused near the village, including the victims’ mobile phone and clothing, the two-wheeler, and a tangiya (axe) believed to be the murder weapon.
