The Commissionerate Police of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack have arrested Chandan Parida, also known as Mangu, for the premeditated murder of his 30-year-old girlfriend, Sneha Behera. Her decomposed body was found along the Daya River under the jurisdiction of Dhauli Police on January 28, more than two weeks after she was reported missing.
Parida, a security guard from Kujang in Jagatsinghpur, had been working in Bhubaneswar’s Laxmisagar area. The case began as a missing person’s report when Sneha, a resident of Baramunda and originally from Kandhamal district, disappeared on January 10. Her sister lodged a complaint with Khandagiri Police on January 17.
During a press briefing, Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh said the death was initially classified as unnatural. However, post-mortem findings confirmed Sneha had been strangled with a stole.
Technical surveillance played a key role in cracking the case. Investigators traced calls made between Sneha and Parida, locating them both near the Daya River on the day she disappeared. After the murder, Parida allegedly fled Bhubaneswar, abandoned his job, and discarded his mobile phone to evade detection.
Police revealed the motive was jealousy and suspicion. Believing Sneha was involved with someone else, Parida lured her to the riverbank, confronted her during a heated argument, and ultimately killed her.
In a shocking twist, a second man, Mitu Parida from Chandanpur in Puri district, attempted to frame his lover’s husband in the murder. After hearing of Sneha’s death on social media, he planted an Aadhaar card belonging to Ramesh Sahu of Jajpur and left a fake suicide note at the crime scene. Mitu, who was in a relationship with Sahu’s wife, was arrested on February 6 after police interrogated Sahu and uncovered the ploy.
Police say further investigation is ongoing to uncover any additional involvement.
