MALKANGIRI, ODISHA:
Severe tension continues to grip Odisha’s Malkangiri district after the recovery of the headless body of a tribal woman from a river, an incident that reignited a long-standing land and ethnic dispute between two neighbouring villages and led to large-scale violence, arson, and displacement.
Gruesome Discovery
The victim was identified as Lake Padiami (51), a tribal woman from Rakhelguda village. She was reported missing on December 3, and her decapitated body was recovered from the Dudametta/Poteru River on December 4. The recovery of her severed head several days later, reportedly found 15–40 km away, intensified anger and suspicion within the local tribal community.
Old Dispute Turns Violent
Police officials say the murder escalated an existing land and sharecropping dispute between the Adivasi residents of Rakhelguda and Bengali-origin settlers living in the nearby MV-26 (Malkangiri Village-26) area. The settlers are families who migrated from erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) during the 1970s and were rehabilitated in parts of Malkangiri under government resettlement schemes.
According to preliminary investigations, tensions over land ownership and cultivation rights had been simmering for years, and the murder acted as a trigger for mass retaliation.
Mob Violence and Arson
Following the discovery, thousands of armed tribal men and women from Rakhelguda allegedly stormed MV-26 village. The mob reportedly vandalised and set fire to between 150 and 200 houses, leaving large sections of the settlement reduced to ashes. Terrified residents fled the area, many taking shelter in nearby villages or temporary relief camps.
Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of chaos, with homes looted and burned, livestock lost, and families displaced overnight.
Security Clampdown
To prevent further escalation, district authorities imposed prohibitory orders (similar to Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita) and enforced a 24-hour internet shutdown, later extended to curb the spread of rumours and inflammatory content on social media.
Security forces, including the Odisha Police, BSF, and ODRAF, were deployed in strength across sensitive pockets, while additional platoons were kept on standby.
Arrests, Probe, and Relief
Police confirmed the detention of Subha Ranjan Mandal (42), a resident of MV-26, in connection with the murder. Investigators are examining whether the crime was premeditated and directly linked to the land dispute.
The Chief Minister’s Office announced an ex-gratia of ₹4 lakh for the victim’s family. Meanwhile, relief centres have been established for displaced MV-26 families, with arrangements for food, shelter, and medical aid.
Efforts to Restore Peace
District officials and senior police officers are conducting peace committee meetings with representatives of both communities to defuse tensions and prevent retaliatory violence. Authorities have warned that strict action will be taken against anyone attempting to disturb communal harmony.
The situation remains tense but under control, with heavy security deployment continuing as investigations progress and rehabilitation efforts begin.
