Mystery of severed head solved; two arrested for killing man in Odisha capital

Reported by Santosh Jagdev
Bhubaneswar, Nov 22:

Commissionerate Police achieved a major success on Friday when it arrested two persons in connection with the murder of a person, whose severed head  wrapped in a black polythene sheet was recovered from near the Daya river under Dhauli police limits on the outskirts of the Odisha capital on November 4.

The accused persons were identified as Bapuni alias Sanjaya Khuntia and Bapi Parija alias Bapi of Sarkantara village under Khandagiri police limits. Another accused Sagar Prusty alias Lalu (24) of the same locality is still absconding.

Briefing newsmen here, twin city Commissioner of Police (CP) Dr R P Sharma said the police team got to know that the severed head was that of Krutibas Parija alias Sonu of Sarkantra village, who had gone missing from his house since November 2, after conducting several tests over the cut head at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

The police team apprehended Bapuni, who had called the deceased on the day of the incident day, after scanning Sonu’s call records. On questioning Bapuni, he confessed that he along with Bapi and Lalu had killed Sonu and later disposed of the dead body and weapon of offence in Daya river, the CP said, adding, “Efforts are on to nab Lalu”.

The motive as ascertained from the accused persons was the inability of Bapuni to repay the loan amount of Rs 2 lakh, which he had taken from the deceased Sonu about 6-7 months back. Bapuni decided to kill Sonu in association with his friends Bapi and Lalu.

Police have seized a chopper, a knife and an axe from the accused, which they had hidden at L/1367, Dumuduma Housing board colony, the murder spot.

Dhauli police have slapped sections 302, 201 and 34 IPC against the accused after registering a case of homicide.