A horrific incident stemming from an ongoing property conflict has come to light in Kandhamal district, Odisha. An argument that began over tilling contested agricultural land in Sikanbadi village, under the jurisdiction of Daringbadi police station, rapidly escalated into deadly violence. Two men allegedly beat their uncle to death following a heated exchange and subsequently attempted to destroy all evidence by burning his remains inside a nearby forest. Local authorities moved quickly to arrest both individuals involved in the crime.
Dispute over Agricultural Land Turns Fatal
According to official details released regarding the case, the deceased has been identified as Mishra Pradhan, a local resident of Sikanbadi village. For a considerable duration, Mishra Pradhan had been embroiled in an ongoing land dispute with his two nephews, Sanjay Pradhan and Siddhant Pradhan. The tension flared into a confrontation on August 13 when Sanjay Pradhan and Siddhant Pradhan began farming operations on the disputed plot of land. Upon noticing this, Mishra Pradhan arrived at the site and objected to their presence, demanding that they halt all work immediately.
The confrontation triggered a heated verbal exchange between the parties. After arguing for some time, the two nephews left the agricultural plot and walked toward a nearby forest. Mishra Pradhan followed them into the woods as the confrontation continued.
Assault in the Woods and Attempt to Destroy Evidence
Inside the dense forest area, the argument between the three men flared up once again. During the altercation, Sanjay Pradhan and Siddhant Pradhan lost their temper and launched a violent physical attack on Mishra Pradhan using heavy wooden planks. Mishra Pradhan sustained lethal injuries from the assault and died on the spot. Fearing detection, the two accused remained inside the forest for a while following the murder.
To conceal the crime and destroy all physical evidence, the duo collected dry firewood from the forest floor and allegedly set Mishra Pradhan's corpse on fire. Local residents in the area noticed smoke rising from the forest along with a burning body and promptly alerted the Daringbadi police. Upon receiving the emergency report, a police team arrived at the location to inspect the scene and launch a formal probe.
Police Investigation and Confession
Following the discovery, Case Number 212/2026 was formally registered at the Daringbadi police station. A special investigation team was immediately constituted to solve the case. Based on suspicion, police apprehended Sanjay Pradhan and Siddhant Pradhan for interrogation. During questioning, both suspects reportedly confessed to their involvement in the murder of their uncle and the subsequent burning of his corpse.
After acknowledging their role in the homicide, the accused led the investigating squad to the precise spot inside the forest where they had committed the act and incinerated the body. Police collected critical evidence from the crime scene before officially placing both Sanjay Pradhan and Siddhant Pradhan under arrest. The duo was subsequently presented before a local court, which remanded them to judicial custody in jail while further legal proceedings continue.
