Bargarh murder case solved; accused arrested.

Bargarh: Bargarh police have solved the murder case of a 57-year-old woman whose body was found near the Resham Branch canal bridge on Sunday. A man has been arrested on charges of killing her following a dispute over a financial transaction.

The deceased woman has been identified as Mamata Hota, a resident of Sahajbahal village under the Deogaon police station limits in Bolangir district. The accused is 56-year-old Ramakant Pujari, a resident of Behramal village under the Dunguripali police limits in Subarnapur district. He was arrested and remanded to judicial custody after his bail plea was rejected. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rabindranath Satapathy stated that the woman’s body bore multiple injuries on the head and other parts. Although she could not be identified initially, investigators traced her family after her photograph was shared on social media.

Satapathy mentioned that the police formed three teams, assisted by the cyber cell and a scientific team, to investigate the case. Questioning the victim’s family revealed that Hota had a long-standing financial relationship with Pujari and frequently visited him to recover money she had lent him. Based on this information, investigators focused on the accused and eventually cracked the case.

According to the police, Pujari owed the victim several lakh rupees. It is reported that two days prior to the incident, Hota had gone to meet him to collect ₹1 lakh.

Investigators stated that the accused took the victim to the Barpali Sital Sasthi festival the night before the murder and kept her with him throughout the night. The following morning, he allegedly attacked her with an axe.

The police have seized the axe used in the crime, a TVS XL Super moped, and the victim’s footwear, clothes, and mobile phone.