In a disturbing development, Berhampur police arrested two individuals—Lalak Mallick (19) and his brother-in-law Siba Shankar Mallick (36)—in connection with the alleged kidnapping and murder of a 14-year-old girl from Ganjam district. The girl had been missing for over a month.
Her skeletal remains and personal belongings were discovered on June 29 in a forest area under Chakapada police limits in Kandhamal district. According to Inspector Jeevanananda Jena of Bhanjanagar police station, what began as a missing person complaint on June 29 turned into a murder probe following the grim discovery.
The victim’s father, a daily wage worker, had returned home on June 25 to find his daughter missing. On June 29, he stumbled upon human remains—including bones hanging from a kendu tree and her dress—while searching the Gashma forest area, triggering the police investigation.
Police say Lalak Mallick, who was in a relationship with the victim, may have taken her to Siba’s residence after a family dispute. While both accused deny any involvement, they admitted to finding the girl’s body days after she disappeared but failed to inform police, raising suspicions.
Authorities are awaiting the post-mortem report to determine the exact cause of death and confirm whether the victim was sexually assaulted. Preliminary evidence suggests foul play, although the accused maintain the girl may have died by suicide.
