Malkangiri Violence: Over 50 Houses Torched After Headless Body Found
Malkangiri district in Odisha witnessed large-scale unrest on Sunday after the discovery of a woman’s headless body triggered outrage among tribal communities.
The deceased, identified as 51-year-old widow Lake Padiami of Rakhelguda village, was found near a riverbank on December 4.
Villagers and tribal organisations demanded swift police action to arrest the accused and recover the missing head. Tensions escalated when over a hundred villagers gathered on December 6 to warn authorities.
By December 7, hundreds of armed men and women assembled in MV-26 village, leading to widespread violence.
Reports confirm that more than 50 houses were torched, shops looted, and vehicles damaged.
Despite police attempts to pacify the crowd, violence broke out around 4 p.m. Senior officials, including Malkangiri SP Vinodh Patil H and District Collector Somesh Kumar Upadhyay, rushed to the scene.
Over 100 police personnel and BSF jawans were deployed to restore order.
The incident has left villagers fearful and distressed, as investigations continue and authorities work to calm tensions in the region.
