A dispute over a lost mobile phone has allegedly led to a gruesome kidnapping and murder in the Mayurbhanj district, sparking shock across the region.
A 30-year-old man, identified as Barju Dehury of Kantashola village under the Badampahar police station limits, succumbed to his injuries at the Rairangpur sub-divisional hospital after being brutally assaulted.
According to initial reports, the conflict originated during a local Durga Puja fair when a resident of Dudhijharan village lost a mobile phone. Suspicion arose when Barju’s son, Ram Dehury, reportedly found a phone at the fair that same night. Believing it to be the stolen device, tensions flared between the two parties.
The situation escalated on Sunday evening when four youths from Dudhijharan allegedly arrived at Kantashola and forcefully abducted both Barju and his son Ram. While the attackers later released the son, they held Barju captive and subjected him to a merciless, prolonged beating.
On Monday morning, Barju’s family discovered him lying in a pool of blood with critical injuries near Chauradihi Square. He was immediately rushed to the Rairangpur hospital in a 108 ambulance but tragically passed away during treatment.
Upon receiving the information, Badampahar police reached the hospital, recovered the body, and sent it for a post-mortem examination. A murder case (Case No. 151/26) has been registered.
Police have currently detained four youths for interrogation. However, speculations are rife in the locality regarding the actual motive behind the killing. While the immediate trigger appears to be the mobile phone controversy, locals and authorities are questioning whether hidden past enmity or other personal disputes fueled the severe violence. Police are investigating the incident from all possible angles.
