In a shocking incident from Odisha's Berhampur, a 58-year-old man and his four brothers have been taken into custody by police. They face serious allegations of murdering the man's wife following a minor argument and then attempting to destroy all evidence of the crime.
The Fatal Night and the Alleged Crime
The accused have been identified as L. Rameya Reddy (58) and his siblings Kehab (56), Dilleswar (52), Damburu (44), and Devaraj (41). The victim was L. Gouri Reddy (55), Rameya's wife. The tragic event unfolded on Monday night in Fashinuagaon village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Golanthara police station.
According to the preliminary investigation led by Bibekanand Swain, the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Golanthara police station, a trivial domestic dispute escalated into a violent quarrel between Rameya and Gouri. In a fit of rage, the prime accused, Rameya, is alleged to have struck his wife on the head with a piece of bamboo. The blow caused severe injuries, leading Gouri to collapse and succumb to her wounds.
A Grisly Cover-Up Attempt
Panicked by his actions, Rameya reportedly called his brothers, who all reside in the same village. Together, they devised a plan to dispose of the body and eliminate proof. The group transported Gouri's body to the local cremation ground using an auto-rickshaw, which was driven by one of the brothers, Damburu. There, they hastily cremated the remains in what police describe as a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence.
The swift action by the Golanthara police led to the arrest of all five brothers on Wednesday. Key pieces of evidence, including the auto-rickshaw used to transport the body and the bamboo stick believed to be the murder weapon, have been seized.
Family Details and Police Investigation
The couple, as confirmed by police on Thursday, were parents to three children. Their two sons are employed outside Odisha, and their daughter is married and lives away. It has been reported that the daughters-in-law were present in the house but were staying on the first floor and were unaware of the incident as it transpired.
The case highlights a brutal instance of domestic violence and a premeditated effort to conceal a crime. The police are continuing their probe to uncover further details and establish a complete sequence of events. The community in Berhampur has been left stunned by the brutality of the crime involving multiple family members.
