Bhubaneswar, Sep 19: The Odisha Police has categorized the murder of a woman traffic constable in Bhubaneswar as a ‘Red Flag’ case, enabling fast-track investigation and heightened monitoring, an official confirmed on Friday.

The victim, Subhamitra Sahoo — a native of Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district and posted in Bhubaneswar — had been missing since September 6. Her decomposed body was discovered on September 17, buried in a forested area in Keonjhar district, approximately 170 kilometers from the state capital.

Introduced in 2014, the ‘Red Flag’ classification is reserved for grave crimes against women, such as rape and murder, to ensure swift and high-priority investigation.

So far, police have arrested three individuals in connection with the case. The victim’s husband, Deepak Kumar Rout (39), has been identified as the prime accused. Two others — Binod Bihari Bhuyan (38), Deepak's cousin, and Sambhunath Mahanta (23) — have also been detained for their alleged roles in criminal conspiracy and tampering with evidence.