Husband arrested for wife’s killing in Odisha’s millennium city

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Dec 5:

Commissionerate Police Thursday arrested the husband of a woman, whose decomposed body was recovered from the septic tank of his house, at Gamhadia in Odisha’s Cuttack city.

Police said Radhakant Pradhan, the husband of the deceased Sabita Patra, who was detained since the discovery of her body on Tuesday, was arrested on charges of murder after prima facie evidence clearly indicated his involvement in the death of his wife.

Twin city police Commissioner R P Sharma Thursday said; “Investigations by the police and forensic team have so far prima facie established the involvement of the husband in the murder of the woman.”

Police said the husband, who is suspected of killing his wife, tried to conceal evidence by dumping her body in the septic tank.

Commissioner Sharma said; “While we are waiting for the autopsy report, the inquest report has revealed injuries on the head and on the neck of the victim. Blood stains have also been recovered from the kitchen of Radhakant’s house.”

Relatives of the victim Thursday filed a fresh FIR alleging that Sabita was raped before being murdered and more than one persons are involved in the incident.  The police have, however, refrained from making any comments on the rape angle and said that they were waiting for the post-mortem report.

Police had fished out the body of Sabita from the septic tank on Tuesday, nine days after she went missing.

Incidentally, Sabita’s brother had earlier complained about her being tortured for dowry and had told the police that the whereabouts of his sister were not known since November 22.

Neighbours said the husband, who was an alcohol and narcotics addict, had an strained relationship with his wife whom he had married six years ago. They said they had often overheard the woman’s cries due to beating by her husband.