Bhubaneswar, March 22 – The Odisha Police arrested five people on Sunday in two separate cases involving the rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl in the Dhenkanal district and the killing of a 14-year-old girl in the Mayurbhanj district.
In the first case, the police in Dhenkanal district arrested four people, including the main suspect, Gangadhar Patra alias Jaga (38), a resident of Santarapur village under the Kamakhyanagar police station, in connection with the rape and murder of a minor college student.
The police said the victim had left her home on March 18 at around 7.30 a.m. to attend an examination, but did not return by the afternoon. Her family contacted the college authorities but could not trace her whereabouts.
The family later began searching for the girl. On March 19, they were informed that her body had been found near the Saruali Gram Panchayat office.
During the investigation, the police found that the accused, a bus driver, was known to the victim, as she used to travel to college on the bus he drove. On March 18, he allegedly took her in a car after the examination, raped her, and later killed her. He then, with the help of associates, disposed of the body in a forested area near Saruali village.
The police said the accused were arrested on Saturday night while allegedly attempting to flee in a vehicle.
In a separate case, the Mayurbhanj Police arrested a tuition teacher, identified as Trilochan Mahakud (39), for the murder of a 14-year-old girl in the Karanjia area.
According to a police statement, the accused was allegedly infatuated with the victim, which was opposed by her family. The police said he bore a grudge over the opposition and allegedly planned the crime.
On March 20, Mahakud allegedly called the victim to a secluded spot near her residence, where an argument ensued. He then allegedly strangled her using a belt and later concealed the body in a gunny bag before disposing of it in a nearby forest area.
Based on the family’s complaint, the police detained the accused, who later confessed during interrogation, officials said, adding that further investigation is underway.