A married couple was found dead in a forest near Chitikmal village under the Larambha police limits in Balangir district on Monday. The bodies were found packed in a sack.
The deceased were identified as Chintamani Bariha and his wife Rukmini.
Police officials, including the Balangir SP, reached the spot and initiated an investigation into the incident.
Though the exact reason of the deaths was yet to be ascertained, it was suspected that the duo was murdered by some villagers over suspicion of their practice of sorcery.
Notably, Chintamani had recently lodged a complaint with the Larambha police that he was being scolded and thrashed by villagers.
A child of the village had died some days ago and the villagers were suspecting that witchcraft practised by Chintamani led to the death. A faceoff was continuing between the villagers and Chintamani over the matter, reports said.