DNA Cracks Blind Murder Mystery: Witchcraft Suspicion Led to Brutal Killing in Odisha
Bhubaneswar: In a significant breakthrough, the Criminal Investigation Department’s Crime Branch (CID-CB) has solved a blind murder case by identifying the decomposed body of a man found in an abandoned well through DNA profiling.
The body of Juburaj Singh, a resident of Village Sukhua Sahi under Udala Police Station in Mayurbhanj district, was recovered from a cashew jungle well in November 2023. Due to prolonged immersion in water and advanced decomposition, identification through conventional methods was impossible.
After taking over the investigation from Udala Police, CID-CB teams prepared a list of missing persons matching the victim’s profile and shortlisted two possibilities. Blood samples from the families were sent for DNA analysis. On June 29, 2026, the DNA report confirmed the deceased as Juburaj Singh through a match with his son, Biswanath Singh.
Investigation revealed that Juburaj Singh had been invited by residents of Village Banasahi (Dugudha) to perform an exorcism ritual. He attended a feast there but went missing afterwards. His body, stuffed in a tied bag, was later dumped in the abandoned well.
Police have arrested Sangauramohan Singh alias Bida Singh and Narahari Singh alias Bapi Singh — both sons of another Biswanath Singh — from the same village on July 2, 2026.
A Child in Conflict with Law (CCL) involved in the case was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board on July 3.
According to CID-CB, the accused suspected Juburaj Singh of practising witchcraft and held him responsible for the death of Sangauramohan Singh’s child. This superstition-driven motive allegedly led to the brutal murder.
The case was registered under Sections 302/201 IPC. Both arrested adults were forwarded to the court of SDJM, Udala, while the juvenile was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, Baripada.
This case highlights the persistent challenge of superstition-related crimes in parts of rural Odisha despite repeated awareness drives by authorities.
The investigation was led by senior CID-CB officers using sustained fieldwork combined with advanced forensic techniques.
