Bhubaneswar, Jul 4: A two-and-ahalf-year-old murder mystery in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district has finally been solved after DNA testing established the identity of the victim and led investigators to the alleged killers.
The breakthrough came in the case of an unidentified decomposed body recovered from an abandoned well in a cashew forest at Bahubandh Sureisahi under Udala Police Station limits on November 8, 2023. Despite initial investigations, police were unable to identify the deceased, prompting the Crime Branch to take over the probe in February 2024.
The investigation took a decisive turn on June 17, 2026, when Biswanath Singh of Sukhuasahi village approached the police while searching for his missing father, Jubaraj Singh. During the inquiry, he identified a pair of slippers recovered from the crime scene as belonging to his father.
"I searched for my father everywhere after he went missing, including at my sister's house and in nearby villages, but could not find him. Later, I was informed that he had died and his body had been thrown into a well," Biswanath said.
Following the identification, the Crime Branch conducted DNA profiling, which confirmed that the unidentified body was that of Jubaraj Singh, providing investigators with the crucial evidence needed to crack the case.
Odisha Crime Branch Director General Vinaytosh Mishra said that when the decomposed body was recovered in November 2023, investigators had no leads regarding the victim's identity. After the Crime Branch took charge, officials compiled a list of missing persons from nearby areas and conducted multiple DNA tests, but none matched until fresh evidence emerged through the victim's family.
The subsequent investigation revealed that Jubaraj Singh was allegedly murdered over suspicions of practising witchcraft. According to the Crime Branch, three persons from Bansahi village allegedly strangled him with a rope before dumping his body into the abandoned well to conceal the crime.
The accused have been identified as Sanagaur Mohan Singh, Narahari Singh and a juvenile, Srinath Singh. The Crime Branch has arrested all three and produced them before the court.
Officials said the successful DNA analysis and persistent investigation ultimately helped solve the long-pending murder case, bringing closure to the victim's family after more than two years.
