Two retired professionals died under mysterious circumstances while returning home by train from Visakhapatnam after medical treatment, sparking suspicion of foul play in Kalahandi district.
The victims were identified as Sudam Naik (65), a retired librarian from Kesinga College, and his father-in-law Lingaraj Sahu (85), a retired teacher from Luthurband village under Titilagarh police limits. Both had travelled to Visakhapatnam for treatment and boarded a train back on Thursday night.
Sudam informed his family that the Visakhapatnam–Korba Link train was cancelled and that they were returning on another train. Hours later, Lingaraj’s body was found near Rayagada station, while Sudam’s body was discovered near Dahikhala railway station, about ten feet from the tracks.
Railway police recovered the bodies on Friday morning. Officers traced Sudam’s family through his belongings and informed relatives. Both bodies were sent for post-mortem at Rayagada and Muniguda before being handed over to the families for cremation.
Family members alleged that hired assailants may have attacked them inside the train due to a property dispute. They claimed Lingaraj had decided to transfer land to Sudam in recognition of his financial support for medical expenses, which reportedly angered other relatives.
The deaths shocked the Kesinga and Titilagarh communities. Sudam was an active member of the Kesinga Citizens Forum, whose leaders expressed deep grief. Police registered a case and launched an investigation to determine whether the deaths were accidental or the result of a planned crime.
