A shocking murder rocked Shankareswar village under Kakatpur police limits in Puri district late Friday night.
Police said Smruti Ranjan Swain, a resident of Beguniabasata village in Astarang, attacked and killed his maternal aunt’s sister, Lili Priya Behera, inside her uncle’s house.
Investigators reported that the accused entered the house and brutally assaulted the young woman, leaving her dead at the scene. Soon after the crime, police arrested Smruti Ranjan. Officers later found him unconscious, nearly 50 meters away from the murder site, under a canal, and rescued him.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, with villagers expressing horror at the brutality of the attack. Police confirmed that the accused remains in custody, and further investigation is underway to determine the motive behind the killing.
Authorities said the case highlights rising concerns over violent crimes in rural Odisha. The victim’s family and neighbours demanded strict punishment for the accused to ensure justice for the slain woman.
