Youth hacked to death over coconut theft dispute in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, May 16: In a gruesome incident in Odisha’s Puri district, a youth named Narasingha Behera was allegedly hacked to death over a dispute involving the plucking of green coconuts. The horrifying murder took place late on Thursday in the Mashanichandi Sahi area under the jurisdiction of Baselisahi Police Station.

According to police sources, the crime was committed by a minor and his accomplices following an argument over the theft of green coconuts from the Masani Chandi temple premises. The minor accused had reportedly quarreled with Behera earlier after being caught stealing coconuts.

Behera, who served as the secretary of the Masanichandi management committee, had recently caught one of the thieves red-handed. The conflict escalated when the accused’s son had an altercation with Behera and his family the day before the murder. Under the cover of darkness, the accused, armed with sharp weapons, reportedly jumped over the boundary wall of Behera’s house, attacked him while he was asleep, and fled the scene.

The police have detained the main accused, a minor, and launched a thorough investigation. Several others are believed to be involved, and a case has been registered based on the victim’s family complaint.