Murder of Missing Odisha Traffic Constable Uncovered

Tragic Discovery in Odisha

A shocking case has emerged from the Keonjhar district of Odisha, where a 25-year-old traffic constable has been found murdered after being reported missing since September 6. Authorities revealed the details on Wednesday.

According to a senior police official, the victim's husband, who is also a police constable, has been arrested in connection with the murder. The deceased has been identified as Shubhamitra Sahu, originally from Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district, who was stationed in Bhubaneswar and went missing after leaving home for duty on September 6.

Shubhamitra's mother filed a missing person report at the Capital police station on September 7. Based on this complaint, the police initiated an investigation.

Police Commissioner S. Dev Dutta Singh stated that during the investigation, it was discovered that Shubhamitra had secretly married a man named Deepak Raut in July 2024 through a court marriage. Singh noted that Raut, also a police constable, became the primary suspect as Shubhamitra was last seen with him in Bhubaneswar.

The police commissioner reported that Raut was apprehended, and during questioning, he confessed to having picked up Shubhamitra from her workplace on September 6 and strangling her between 2 and 3 PM. He then buried her body in a forest area near Ghatgaon in Keonjhar district, approximately 170 kilometers from Bhubaneswar.

It is believed that the motive behind the murder was a financial dispute between the couple, as Raut allegedly borrowed around 10 lakh rupees from Shubhamitra.

Raut has been charged with murder at the Capital police station. Meanwhile, opposition leader in the Odisha Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over the murder of the missing constable.

Patnaik expressed his shock at the news of Shubhamitra's death, stating that it raises serious questions about the efficiency and capability of the home department and state police.

Bhakta Charan Das, president of the state Congress unit, also questioned the functioning of the home department and the police commissioner.