Youth kills his friend by hitting on head with iron rod in Odisha’s Khurda

Siko: A youth allegedly killed his friend today morning by hitting the latter’s head with an iron rod for reasons not known yet at Sagadabhanga village under Siko outpost and Jankia police limits in Khurda district.

The deceased was identified as young artiste Rashmiranjan Baliarsingh from the village and the accused was identified as his friend Somnath Lath from Puri district.

According to a source, Rashmiranjan and Somnath were local artistes and used to perform together. They were household names for their enactments of mythological plays. The two friends had gone to Champatipur village under Ranpur block on a call to perform a play on the occasion of New Year’s Day, last night. The duo returned to Sagadabhanga village early next morning and went to sleep after finishing their morning chores.

Rashmiranjan’s mother, who is an Asha worker, left the house and went to her workplace at around 7.00 am. The two friends were sleeping at home at that time as they had spent sleepless nights. She returned home at around 12.30 pm and found the main door of the house locked.

Later, the woman enquired about her son with neighbours and ascertained that they had not seen Rashmiranjan since early morning. Suspecting foul play, she broke open the door and found her son dead while he was lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

The accused fled from the spot soon after committing the crime.

On being informed about the death, Jankia police reached the village and initiated a probe. “We have sought the service of a scientific team to assist in the probe,” a cop Brahmananda Swain said.