Bhubaneswar: A chilling mystery that baffled police for months has finally been solved. The State Crime Branch on Saturday announced it had cracked a blind murder case in Udala, Mayurbhanj district, using DNA profiling to identify the victim and nab the killers.
The case began on February 8, 2024, when an unidentified male body was recovered from an abandoned well inside a cashew plantation. Advanced decomposition made conventional identification impossible. Investigators prepared a list of missing persons and collected blood samples from families for DNA analysis.
On June 29, 2026, forensic results confirmed the victim as Juburaj Singh of Sukhua Sahi village, matched through his son's DNA. The probe revealed Juburaj had been invited to perform an exorcism ritual in Banasahi (Dugudha) but never returned. His body was later found packed in a tied bag.
Police say the murder was committed by Sangauramohan Singh alias Bida Singh, Narahari Singh alias Bapi Singh, and a juvenile, who suspected Juburaj of practising witchcraft and blamed him for the death of a child.
Both adult accused were arrested on July 2, 2026, and produced in court, while the juvenile was presented before the Juvenile Justice Board the next day.