Woman Arrested for Allegedly Strangling 9-Year-Old Niece in Ganjam Village
In a shocking incident in Ganjam district, a 26-year-old woman was arrested on Thursday for allegedly strangling her nine-year-old niece-in-law, the daughter of her sister-in-law. The crime occurred at Laxmanapalli village under the Jagannath Prasad police station limits, sending ripples of distress through the local community.
Discovery of the Body
Police recovered the body of the young victim on Wednesday evening after an extensive search. According to authorities, the accused, identified as Bidyabharati Moharana, had wrapped the child's body in a plastic sheet and concealed it inside an abandoned toilet located at the rear of her house. The grim discovery was made following a report of the girl's disappearance.
Background of the Incident
The victim, a resident of Bhubaneswar, had visited her maternal uncle's house in Laxmanapalli village along with her mother and elder sister on Wednesday. Later that day, the girl's mother and uncle left for Kanakuturu for a medical check-up, leaving the children behind. Upon their return, they found the younger daughter missing and immediately launched a search, but she could not be traced, prompting them to report the matter to the police.
The victim's elder sister provided a crucial timeline, stating that the girl had been outside with her until around 1:30 PM before returning home for lunch. This detail helped police narrow down the timeframe of the incident.
Police Investigation and Confession
Senior police officers, including Ganjam Superintendent of Police Suvendu Patra, Additional SP (Bhanjanagar) Ranjan Kumar De, and SDPO (Bhanjanagar) Deepak Kumar Mishra, along with a forensic team, rushed to the scene. During their search, they found the body in the abandoned toilet.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the alleged motive behind the crime was jealousy. Police stated that Bidyabharati Moharana, who has been married for three years without children, allegedly killed the girl out of resentment. According to the SP, the victim had returned home around 1:30 PM and asked her aunt for food. Taking advantage of the absence of other family members, the accused allegedly strangled her using a cloth.
During interrogation, the woman confessed to the crime. She reportedly expressed anger towards her husband, alleging that he did not take her for fertility-related medical consultations, while he had accompanied his sister for pregnancy-related check-ups. This frustration is believed to have fueled her actions.
Ongoing Investigation
Further investigation is currently underway to gather more evidence and understand the full circumstances of this tragic event. Police are working to ensure all aspects of the case are thoroughly examined, and the accused remains in custody as the legal process continues.
