Horror in Odisha’s pilgrim town: body parts in trunks found in holy pond

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Puri, Dec 10:

The recovery of decomposed and mutilated body parts of a man from two steel trunks found floating in the sacred Narendra pond today has sent shock waves in Odisha’s pilgrim town Puri.

Locals informed the police after they saw two steel trunks floating in two different directions of the Narendra pond here this morning.

After fishing out the trunks from the pond, police found that one of the trunks contained two hands and other body parts packed in a polythene bag while the other trunk contained other parts of the body of a man. However, one leg of the deceased was missing, police said.

Police suspects it to be a case of murder. “We suspect prima facie that the murder could have taken place elsewhere and the body parts dumped here later. It appears that the man was murdered four to five days back. Things will become clear only after post-mortem is done on the body”, said Pravat Chandra Routray, city DSP. The identity of the deceased is yet to be established, he added.

Investigations by the police and the forensic team are on.

After arranging the body parts of the deceased in order, police took photographs of it and flashed it to different police stations in the state for gathering information on the identity of the dead man.

Police sources said the viscera collected from the body during post mortem may be sent for DNA finger printing to establish the identity of the deceased. The body had a paita (sacred thread used by Brahmins) on it, police sources added.

“There is no light here; neither are there any security guards in the night. This has made this place a safe haven for criminals and anti-socials. With Nabakalebara festival in the offing, things like tight policing is needed for safety and security,” said Keshab Chandra Parija, a local.