The Nabarangpur police on Friday arrested two youths in connection with the murder of a minor girl in Gumandali village of Kosagumuda in the district.
The two arrestees were identified as Khadi Bhatra of Pakhanaguda village under the Kotpad police station of Koraput district and Bali Majhi of Gumandali.
Nabarangpur SP Nitini Kushalkar said the postmortem report of the deceased revealed that she was strangulated to death but there are signs of sexual assault.
The main accused Bhatra had approached the deceased several times to marry her but she had rejected his propositions. Later, the victim’ parents also turned down Bhatra’s marriage proposal. So, to take revenge, Bhatra strangulated the girl to death with the help of his aide Majhi, said the SP.
Besides, the police are investigating into the incident into two jean pants being found at the crime scene. More arrests also cannot be ruled out as investigations are still on, said the SP.
On Monday, DIG (Southern Range) Satyabrata Bhoi along with a team of police officials visited the victim’s native Gumundali village under Kosagumuda police station.
They inspected the spot and discussed about the details of the postmortem report with the family of the deceased. The police informed the family members that the girl was not gangraped, but was murdered. They had assured them of arresting the accused soon.
Notably, the 16-year-old tribal girl, who had gone missing from home on December 13 night was found dead by locals on the outskirts of her village on December 14 morning.