Bhubaneswar, Nov 6: In a shocking incident, police and a scientific team on Thursday exhumed the body of a 27-year-old woman from a village cremation ground in Narasinghguda under Tentulikhunti police limits in Nabarangpur district. The discovery that the woman’s head and both hands were missing has raised suspicions of possible tantric practices.

The deceased was identified as Nilandri Majhi, an unmarried woman from Narasinghguda village under Nandahandi block. She died on September 26, following which her family buried her in the village cremation ground.

According to local customs, the family guarded her grave for the first 21 days, fearing that it could be targeted by people practising black magic. However, they later stopped the vigil.

On Thursday morning, villagers noticed that the grave had been disturbed. Upon inspection, the family found the body missing its head and both hands. Two sacrificed hens and other ritual materials were also reportedly found near the grave.

Suspecting foul play, the family alleged that miscreants had dug up the grave during the night and removed the body parts before reburying the remains.

Following information, police, a scientific team and Additional Tehsildar Seemanchal Patra reached the spot. The body was exhumed in the presence of an executive magistrate for investigation.

Police have recorded the statement of the deceased's brother, Abhimanyu Majhi, and initiated an investigation. The incident has triggered fear and panic among villagers.

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