2 villages clash in Odisha after headless body is found; internet ban, prohibitory orders imposed

“In order to prevent the spread of such inflammatory and motivated messages to circulate in the above-mentioned media to disturb the public order in Malkangiri district and restore peace and amity,” the order said.

On December 4 — a day after she was reported missing — the headless body of a 55-year-old tribal woman from Rakhelguda village was found in a river. A youth from MV-26 was detained for questioning, leading to clashes between the villages. The situation further deteriorated on Monday when over 5,000 tribals armed with traditional weapons marched to the village and indulged in vandalism.

The woman’s head is yet to be found, further fuelling anger in Rakhelguda village. Her family and village residents are preventing a post-mortem from being conducted, police said.

A land dispute is suspected to be the motive behind the murder.

Odisha Director General of Police YB Khurania visited Malkangiri along with senior police officers and held a meeting with district officials to restore peace. To maintain law and order and prevent further escalation, BSF personnel along with district police have been deployed in the area.

The situation is under control, Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Vinodh Patil said. “We have deployed sufficient forces in both the villages to avoid further escalation. The police have also been conducting flag marches in the area. Our first priority is to restore peace. The accused in the case has been identified and will soon be arrested,” the SP said.

Meanwhile, Bengali residents of several nearby villages gheraoed the Collector’s office to demand action against those involved in vandalism and arson.