The Khariar police on Friday arrested the mother-in-law, father-in-law and husband of one Sumitra Dal (22), whose body was dug out of a ditch in Majhidungri hill of Rishigaon village under the Khariar police limits of Nuapada district on Thursday.
According to police, the arrests were made on the basis of prima facie evidence gathered through a preliminary inquiry and on a complaint lodged by Sumitra's father Bharat Dal, a resident of Bahalmunda village of Konabira GP under the Komna PS. Bharat has alleged that his daughter was murdered by his son-in-law Chitman Jani alias Dal (26) and his parents Drona (44) and Pune (42). The accused allegedly murdered the girl and buried her body to suppress the crime evidence.
"It has been ascertained so far that the accused persons committed the murder of Sumitra on 13.09.2021 afternoon and buried the dead in a nearby ditch in order to disappear the evidence," stated a Press release issued by the SDPO, Khariar, on Friday. "On 15.9.21, in the presence of an Executive Magistrate and with the help of a scientific team and a dog squad, the body was disinterred and, after inquest, sent for postmortem. However, the exact cause of death will be ascertained after getting PM opinion report," the release added.
The accused persons have, however, denied the allegation of murder stating that Sumitra had an alteration with her mother-in-law and left home with Chitman two days before she was found hanging from a Palasa tree in Majhidungri hill by Chitman. "My son found her hanging and called us to the site. We became terrified and buried her in a ditch out of fear," said Drona.
Sumitra, who had eloped with Chitman eight months ago, was his second wife. The first wife is living with her parents since a few months. Though the second marriage got social sanction from the Dal Samaj a few months after their elopement, Chitman's mother could never accept her; and, according to information of the neighbours, the duo were having regular altercations.