Berhampur: The decomposed body of a 24-year-old MBA student, who was missing since August 28, was found in a forest after 20 days near Bhogara village under Tarsingh police limits in Ganjam district Tuesday.
The police also seized a two-wheeler of the deceased youth Jitu Pradhan.
Following this, local people staged a road blockade near Tarsing in the district demanding arrest of the culprits and compensation of Rs 50 lakh for the bereaved family and action against cops for delay in probe.
As tension prevailed in the area, senior police officers including Superintendent of Police Brijesh Rai, Bhanjagar sub-collector Laxmikant Sethy, SDPO Utkal Keshari Das rushed to the spot and took stock of the situation.
The situation was brought under control after 26 hours after the officials detained two persons in this connection and provided compensation of Rs 20,000 to the deceased’s family. Later, the body was seized and sent for autopsy to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.
Pradhan was an MBA student at a private institute in Bhubaneswar. He had come home for holidays August 27 and set off to return back the next day. On his way back to college, he stopped in a friend’s house and asked some money that led to an altercation between the two.
Later, Jitu’s friend along with his accomplices allegedly killed Jitu and buried him in the forest along with his motorbike.
Family members suspect that Jitu might have been murdered over business rivalry. They said Jitu had a dispute with his partner in poultry business.
PNN