The victims were identified as Hadibandhu Sahu (81) and his wife Shanti Sahu (72). According to police, their son Himanshu Sahu attacked them in a drunken rage after a heated argument. The murder weapon—a heavy hammer typically used for breaking stones—was recovered from the scene.
On Wednesday morning, villagers found Himanshu sitting on a cot next to the blood-soaked bodies and alerted the police. He was arrested at the spot. The bodies were sent to PRM Medical College and Hospital in Baripada for post-mortem.
Preliminary investigations point to long-standing family disputes as a possible trigger. Police sources said Himanshu’s wife and children had been living separately for some time, which may have worsened tensions in the household. A senior police officer confirmed that a case has been registered and further investigation is underway. The gruesome nature of the crime—and Himanshu’s calm presence beside the bodies for hours—has left the local community stunned and horrified.