Crime News / Baleshwar Minor Girl Rape & Murder Case: Nampo Outpost In-Charge Transferred Amid Probe

Baleshwar, Oct 23: The officer in charge of Nampo police outpost, Karan Marandi, has been transferred to the Baleshwar district headquarters over alleged negligence and lapses in the investigation into the rape and murder of a minor girl whose decomposed body was recovered near Bartana village, a source said on Friday.

Marandi was removed from his outpost duties on Thursday. Deputy Superintendent of Police Chandramani Singh has taken over the investigation, the source said.

The action comes amid public outrage over the girl’s death. She had been missing for five days before her body was recovered on Thursday. Afterwards, residents yesterday had blocked Jaleswar–Paschimbad road for more than 10 hours, burned tyres and demanded strict action against those allegedly involved in the crime, along with the suspension of the Nampo outpost-in-charge.

Decomposed Body Recovered Near Paddy Field
According to the source, the victim left home on the evening of October 16 to attend a dance class, along with a minor female friend and alleged boyfriend Chandrakanta Jena alias Kanha. She did not return home that night.

On October 17, her family lodged a missing-person complaint at the Nampo police outpost. Police subsequently began an investigation and questioned Chandrakanta, who was initially detained for questioning and later released, the source informed.

Also Read: Bodies Of Missing Couple Found Hanging In Odisha’s Kalahandi, Murder Suspected

The case took a turn on Thursday morning when the accused allegedly provided police with information about the location of the girl’s body.

The girl’s decomposed body was found near a paddy field close to Dherapada in Bartana village, under the jurisdiction of Jaleswar police station, on Thursday. Her family identified the body from the clothing found at the scene and a pair of shoes lying some distance away.

A piece of red cloth found tied around the girl’s neck and a tree branch has raised questions about the circumstances of her death. Questions have also emerged over whether the body was moved from its original position.

The exact cause and manner of death are yet to be established through forensic examination and the post-mortem report.

Special Team, Forensic Examination Underway
Acting on the directions of the Baleshwar Superintendent of Police, senior officers visited the scene, including Additional Superintendent of Police Paresh Raut and three deputy superintendents of police. They were accompanied by Jaleswar police station Inspector-in-Charge Ashok Kumar Barik, Bhograi Inspector-in-Charge Gyanaranjan Sahoo, an additional tehsildar and a forensic team.

Investigators collected samples from the scene for forensic examination. The body was recovered and sent for a post-mortem examination.

The victim’s boyfriend has been accused of rape and murder. Her close friend and the friend’s mother have also been accused of involvement. Their alleged roles remain under investigation.