The Gajapati police on Saturday retrieved the burnt bodies of three youths from the Khamari forest. The youths, all residents of Padmanavpur under the Mohana police station, had been missing since December 23.
They were identified as Pradip Sethy, Nandeshu Reddy and Jagannath Reddy.
According to Pradip Sethy’s sister, he along with Nandeshu and Jagannath had gone to meet one lochana Behera, an insurance agent, to Gothakeli on December 23 but they did not return, following which their family members lodged complaints at the Mohana police station.
The police on Friday had traced three pairs of shoes, a helmet and a bike from an isolated place near Gothakeli village. The investigators on Saturday during search operation in the nearby areas found the burnt bodies of the three youths.
“The family members identified the bodies after finding the bracelets and chains on the spot. Investigation is on,” said Gajapati SP Satyajit Nayak.
Police suspected that the insurance agent might have murdered the three.