In the small village of Sardula in Odisha's Ganjam district, a tragic incident occurred on Saturday. A man named Banadhar Pradhan, hailing from a neighboring district, was brutally beaten by the villagers on suspicion of theft. The incident took place in the jurisdiction of the Bhanjanagar police station. Sadly, Pradhan could not survive the attack and was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.
According to the authorities, Pradhan and two other men were accused of robbing the house of a local resident, Sushant Gouda. While trying to flee, Pradhan fell and injured his leg, which led to his capture by the villagers. They tied him to an electric pole and took matters into their own hands by mercilessly assaulting him. The police were able to rescue Pradhan early Saturday, but it was too late. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead by the doctors.
Additional SP Ranjan Kumar Dey stated that Pradhan's body was taken to the sub-divisional hospital in Bhanjanagar, where he was declared brought dead. The authorities are currently investigating the incident to determine the motive behind the killing. The sub-divisional police officer, Deepak Mishra, also mentioned that 20 people have been arrested in connection with the lynching. The suspects were found in possession of Pradhan's mobile phone, along with iron rods and ropes that were used to tie him up.
Jeebanananda Jena, the inspector-in-charge at Bhanjanagar police station, revealed that many villagers fled the scene out of fear of police action, which resulted in a heavy deployment of forces in the area. The authorities have also called in a forensic team to assist in the investigation. Meanwhile, Gouda, the victim of the house robbery, has filed a police complaint stating that his gold jewelry and several sarees were stolen.
The residents of Sardula village are in a state of shock and mourning over this tragic incident. The local newspaper, Orissa POST, has reported on the incident, bringing it to the attention of the rest of the state. It is a sad reminder of the consequences of taking the law into one's own hands and the importance of allowing the authorities to handle such matters. Our thoughts go out to the family and loved ones of Banadhar Pradhan during this difficult time.
