A brutal incident of domestic violence has shocked the Sundargarh district of Odisha, resulting in the tragic death of a young woman. Pushpa Dharwar, aged 33, was allegedly beaten to death by her husband, Makunda Dharwar (38), following a heated argument. The Hemgir police have since arrested the accused from their home in Khuntijhari village.
The Fatal Altercation in the Forest
The tragic sequence of events unfolded on Wednesday afternoon. According to police officials, Pushpa and Makunda were returning home from a local market. As they walked through a forested stretch near Khuntijhari village under Hemgir police limits, an argument erupted between them. The dispute reportedly began over a family matter while Makunda was speaking to someone on his mobile phone.
Enraged by the conversation, Pushpa allegedly snatched the phone and threw it away. This act, police stated, provoked Makunda into a violent rage. In his fury, he picked up a wooden stick and repeatedly assaulted his wife, inflicting grievous injuries that caused her to collapse on the spot.
A Delayed Response and Arrest
After the assault, Makunda carried the critically injured Pushpa back towards their home. During this journey, he reportedly slipped and injured himself by hitting a stone, but he still managed to bring her home. Shockingly, despite Pushpa's severe condition, Makunda did not seek any medical help for her.
The situation took a grim turn in the early hours of Thursday. Around 3 am, Makunda found Pushpa unresponsive. He then informed his younger brother, who subsequently alerted Pushpa's family. Her relatives reached the house on Thursday morning and immediately informed the Hemgir police.
Police officials swiftly arrived at the scene, seized the body, and sent it for a postmortem examination scheduled for Friday. Acting on a formal complaint lodged by Pushpa's father, the police registered a murder case and apprehended Makunda Dharwar.
Investigation and Recovery of Evidence
Inspector-in-charge of Hemgir police station, Manoranjan Bisi, confirmed the arrest and ongoing interrogation. "After registering a murder case, we have apprehended the accused and are interrogating him," Bisi stated.
The investigation progressed based on the accused's confession. A police team, accompanied by forensic experts, visited the forest area and recovered the stick believed to be the weapon used in the fatal assault. This recovery is a crucial piece of evidence in the case.
The tragedy has left the local community in mourning and has highlighted the severe consequences of domestic disputes turning violent. Pushpa is survived by her three young children, whose future now hangs in the balance following this horrific incident.
