Missing 4-year-old boy found dead in stone quarry in Odisha’s Khurda; probe initiated

Tangi: A minor boy aged around four years had gone missing four days ago. However, his body was spotted today by some locals with legs and hands tied with a rope at a stone quarry near Ujjwala Gopinathpur village under Bhusandpur outpost and Tangi police limits in Khurda district.

The deceased boy was identified as the son of one Subash Pradhan from the village.

According to a source, the minor had gone to a stone quarry along with a distantly related grandfather on November 17 to take a bath at around 11.00 am. After the boy did not return home for quite long hours, his family searched for him at all possible locations to trace the child but to no avail.

Later, the child’s family had lodged an FIR at Bhusandpur outpost in this regard. Acting on the FIR, Tangi police and a team of fire services personnel reached the spot and launched a frantic search.

An ODRAF team also supported the fire services personnel in the search operation. Despite striving for hours, the minor boy was not previously traced but was found dead today in another stone quarry.

On being informed, Tangi police reached the spot and seized the body and launched a probe. Police have detained three persons in this connection, who are being interrogated by the probe team.

“Primary evidence suggests that it is a case of murder but the actual cause of death can be ascertained only after a post-mortem report comes in,” a senior cop expressed.