BHUBANESWAR/BARIPADA: A DNA test conducted more than two years after an unidentified body was recovered from an abandoned well in Maryubhanj’s Udala area has enabled the CB-CID to crack a blind murder case and arrest two persons.
The deceased was identified as Juburaj Singh of Sukhua Sahi village under Udala police station. Although the murder took place in February 2024, his identity was established on June 29 through DNA profiling after matching his DNA with that of his son.
A total of three accused, including a child in conflict with law (CCL), were apprehended on July 2. While Sangauramohan Singh and Narahari Singh, of Banasahi (Dugudha) village under Udala police limits, were produced before the SDJM court in Udala the same day, the CCL was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board in Baripada on July 3. The investigation revealed that the accused suspected Juburaj of practising witchcraft and believed he was responsible for the death of a child in their village.
CB-CID officials said the case was lodged on February 8, 2024. It was originally investigated by Udala police after the body of an unidentified man was found inside a tied bag in an abandoned well located in a secluded cashew plantation. As the body had remained submerged in water for a prolonged period and was in an advanced state of decomposition, investigators were initially unable to establish the victim’s identity through conventional methods.
After taking over the investigation, the CB-CID carried out extensive field inquiries supported by scientific and technical methods. Investigators prepared a list of missing persons matching the profile of the deceased and narrowed down on two individuals. Blood samples from their families were sent for DNA analysis.
The investigation revealed that before his murder, Juburaj had been invited by residents of Banasahi (Dugudha) village to perform an exorcism ritual and had attended a feast there. He went missing thereafter, and his body was later recovered from the abandoned well.