Tension gripped Kakitara village under Gothalpadar panchayat in Gunupur block, Rayagada district, after the blood‑soaked body of a man was found in a forest stream on Thursday morning.
The deceased has been identified as Matia Patika (57), a resident of Kakitara. Family members alleged that he was murdered, prompting police to launch a detailed investigation.
According to reports, Patika had gone missing since Wednesday evening. Despite frantic searches, his whereabouts remained unknown until villagers spotted his body in the forest nala, with his motorbike lying nearby.
On receiving information, Gunupur police rushed to the spot, seized the body and called in a scientific team for examination. The body has been sent for post‑mortem, which will determine whether the death was a case of planned murder or accident.
Police officials said the exact cause of death remains unclear and will be established after the autopsy report.
