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DNA Test Cracks 3-Year-Old Witchcraft Murder Case
4 Jul
Summary
- DNA tests confirmed the identity of an unidentified body three years later.
- Two different-sized slippers found at the scene were a crucial clue.
- Accused killed an elderly man suspected of practicing witchcraft.
In a significant breakthrough, Odisha's crime branch has solved a three-year-old suspected witchcraft murder case. The investigation culminated with the arrest of two individuals and the detention of a juvenile, following DNA confirmation of an unidentified body. The victim, Juburaj Singh, 75, had been missing since October 2023 and his body was discovered in November 2023. The case was particularly challenging due to the body's decomposition and lack of initial identification. A key piece of evidence was the recovery of two slippers of different sizes near where the body was found. This unusual clue, combined with DNA profiling from Singh's son, ultimately confirmed the body's identity. Investigators believe Singh was invited to Banasahi to perform an exorcism ritual, but was subsequently killed by villagers who suspected him of practicing witchcraft and blamed him for a child's death. The arrested accused were presented in court on Saturday. This development brings closure to a case that highlights the persistence of witch-hunting beliefs in some areas.
