Man’s murder cuffs on wife, companion

Jharsuguda: Rengali police on Thursday arrested a 40-year-old woman and her 44-year-old male companion for the alleged murder of her husband and dumping his body in a field at Sagarpali, Sahupada, under Rengali police station in Jharsuguda district early on Wednesday.Police identified the accused as Gita Mirdha and Tiknu Kishan, a resident of Sundargarh, presently living at Sagarpali under Rengali police station.Police said the deceased, Sasthidhar Sahu (38), was a native of Khandahata village in Angul district and was working as a driver in Belpahar. He had been living with Geeta for several years, and the couple has two daughters. Police said frequent domestic disputes, Sasthidhar’s alleged alcoholism, and a deteriorating relationship had led to regular quarrels within the family, and he hardly visited his home. Meanwhile, Gita, who works as a daily worker, had developed a relationship with Tiknu Kishan during his absence.On the night of June 23, an argument reportedly broke out among Shaktidhar, Gita, and Tiknu. During the altercation, Tiknu allegedly pushed Sasthidhar to the ground and restrained him, following which Gita hit him on the head with a wooden plank, after which Sasthidhar died on the spot due to severe head injuries.

Brajrajnagar SDPO Chintamani Pradhan said, “The accused later carried the body to a nearby agricultural field and dumped it there to mislead investigators and divert suspicion. This was discovered on Wednesday morning. Later, Rengali police registered a case and investigated the matter; even a scientific team and a dog squad were pressed into service, while investigators relied on technical evidence, local intelligence, and sustained questioning to solve the case within hours.Police recovered blood-stained clothes, a blood-marked ring, the suspected wooden weapon used in the murder, and other incriminating materials from the accused.