Balasore: Body of a former sarpanch and BJD leader was found in Bandhagaon village under Bhadrak rural police station limits in Bhadrak district on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Chitta Ranjan Rout (53), a resident of Bandhagaon village and former president of the Ambaroli Cooperative Society.
Police sources said there were four injury marks on the victim’s body and both his motorcycle and mobile phone were missing. Bhadrak city DSP Anshuman Diwedi said a case was registered and the body was sent for postmortem. “Investigation is underway and police will take action based on the evidence found. However, who killed Rout and the motive behind the alleged murder is yet to be ascertained,” he added.
According to sources, Rout was returning home after attending a religious programme in a neighbouring village on Tuesday evening. As he did not reach home, his family members searched for him. His blood-soaked body was later found near a canal. His head and body bore wounds, suggesting an attack with a sharp weapon.
Santosh Nayak, a neighbour of the deceased, said, “When he didn’t return home last night, his brother Manaranjan Rout began searching for him. He eventually found Chittaranjan’s body in a paddy field along the roadside.”