Odisha HORROR! Tribal woman’s severed head found near river bank, internet to remain suspended in Malkangiri due to…

Malkangiri violence: Situation continued to remain tense in Odisha’s Malkangiri after the severed head of a missing tribal woman was recovered from a river bank in the violence-hit district on Wednesday, nearly a week after her decapitated body was found nearly 15 km away.

Woman’s severed found on river bank

According to the police, the severed head of Lake Podiami, a 51-year-old tribal woman reported missing since December 1, was found on the Poteru riverbank close to a Kanya Ashram, about 15 km from where her body was found on December 4. The woman’s mortal remains were buried at her village on Tuesday amid tight security and in the presence of senior officers, they said.

Police said the woman’s family had lodged a missing persons complaint on December 3 after she remained untraced for three days, since December 1, and following investigation, her headless corpse was found on December 4, while the head was recovered on Wednesday. “After recovery of the severed head, the police was examining it and undertaking related investigation to ascertain the circumstances that led to the woman’s murder.”

Prohibitory orders clamped, internet suspended

Meanwhile, the state government has extended the suspension of internet services for another 24 hours in Malkangiri district, while prohibitory orders continued to remain in force in the woman’s native Rakhelguda and MV 26 villages.

“The government has extended the internet service suspension period by another 24 hours based on the recommendation of the Malkangiri District Collector. The earlier ban was in force till 12 noon on Wednesday,” an official said.

Why violence erupted in Malkangiri?

Earlier, violence broke out on Sunday afternoon after the woman’s headless body was found. As the news spread,  large number of tribals from Rakhelguda village allegedly attacked MV-26 village, a settlement of Bengalis in the district, torching several houses and damaging at least 200 structures as the irate tribals went on a rampage.

The police have arrested Subha Ranjan Mandal (42) on charge of killing the tribal woman, whose killing led to violence in the tribal dominated district.

“The administration has opened a free kitchen at MV-26 village, provided food, blankets and other essentials to the people. Around 300 people who had fled from the village have returned and are staying in a temporary shelter,” PTI quoted Malkangiri District Collector Somesh Kumar Upadhyay as saying.

(With inputs from agencies)