Festive celebrations turned into profound grief in Odisha’s Sundaragada district after a 21-year-old married woman was found hanging under mysterious circumstances just ahead of the traditional Bhai Jiuuntia festival.
The incident occurred in Manamunda village under the jurisdiction of the Dharuadihi police station. The deceased has been identified as Medini Kishan, who originally hailed from Timana village under the Badagaon police station limits. She had married Dibya Kishan of Manamunda approximately two years ago.
According to reports, the sacred Bhai Jiuuntia festival—where sisters observe rigorous fasts and tie protective threads on their brothers’ wrists for their long life and well-being—was being observed across the region. However, instead of participating in the rituals, Medini’s family received devastating news.
On Monday, the victim’s mother-in-law allegedly contacted Medini’s brother, Krushna Bada, informing him that his sister was no longer alive. Shocked and alarmed, Krushna, along with several relatives, immediately rushed to his sister’s marital home. Upon arrival, they were horrified to find Medini’s lifeless body hanging from the ceiling of a room with a rope around her neck.
When questioned about how the tragedy occurred, Medini’s husband failed to provide any satisfactory explanation, fueling deep suspicions within the family. Consequently, the grieving brother lodged a formal complaint at the police station, alleging that his sister was murdered.
Local police reached the spot on Monday evening and secured the crime scene. On Tuesday morning, a scientific team arrived to collect critical forensic evidence and samples. The body was subsequently seized in the presence of Executive Magistrate-cum-Sadar Tehsildar Kulamani Ranabida and shifted to the district headquarters hospital for a post-mortem.
Authorities have registered an unnatural death case and launched a comprehensive investigation. Police stated that the exact cause of death will be conclusively determined once the post-mortem report is officially released.
