Cuttack, May 21: Tension prevailed in Baranga after the half-buried body of a woman was recovered from the Kathajodi riverbed near Brahmani village in Cuttack district on Thursday. Police suspect the woman may have been murdered and her body buried in the sand.

According to sources, locals who had gone to the river in the morning noticed the body and alerted the police. Soon after, personnel from Baranga police station reached the spot and launched an investigation. The IIC of Baranga police station along with ACP Zone-4 visited the scene, while a scientific team was also engaged to assist in the probe.

The deceased woman was reportedly wearing pink-coloured clothes. However, her identity is yet to be established.

Police are probing the case from multiple angles. Several brick kilns operate near the riverbank, where labourers from outside districts and states work. Investigators suspect the woman may have died due to a serious illness and was buried in the sand by family members.

At the same time, police are also examining the possibility of foul play, as anti-social activities are frequently reported in the riverbank area during nighttime. Officials said the exact cause behind the incident will be clear only after completion of the investigation.