No Maoist link, no motive for witchcraft in murder of couple

Phulbani: Gochhapada police on Monday revealed that a tribal couple recently murdered in Kandhamal was not by Maoists, as initially suspected, but by villagers.

Superintendent of Police Suvendu Patra confirmed that 10 people, including a woman, had been arrested in connection with the murders.
The victims, Tahira Kanhar and Batasi Kanhar of Gumaldani village, were found dead in Kaseru forest on March 9 with serious head injuries. Contrary to initial beliefs, investigation revealed that the couple became victims of superstition, as the villagers suspected them of practicing witchcraft.

According to the police, the accused villagers alleged that a lot of people were falling ill in the village and they believed it was due to witchcraft practiced by the couple. As the allegations continued to mount, the couple shifted to Kalibiherigata under Salaguda panchayat.
During police interrogation, the main accused Sunil Kanhar confessed to his crime, and blamed the couple’s alleged black magic practice for his father’s death. He revealed that on March 4, some villagers in a meeting allegedly decided to kill the couple and asked Sunil to eliminate the duo for Rs 40,000.

That fateful day, he and his partner Ajay Kanhar attacked the couple and beat them to death with a hammer. To avoid being caught by the police, the accused disposed of the murder weapon and blood stained clothes.
Both Tahira and Batasi had previously served as ward members of Salaguda Gram Panchayat.