Bhubaneswar: In a chilling incident that has sent shockwaves across Odisha’s Gajapati district, eight women allegedly took matters into their own hands and killed a 60-year-old man who had been harassing them for months. Police said the man, identified as Kambi Malik of Kuihuru village, was murdered on June 2 by a group of women who then burned his body to conceal the crime.
According to police, Kambi had been living alone since his wife’s death and was allegedly known for harassing several women in the village. Despite repeated warnings, he continued his predatory behaviour, leaving the women with no choice, they claimed, but to take drastic action.
The women, who police say had suffered repeated harassment, waited for the right moment to confront him. On June 2, when Kambi’s family was away, they entered his home where he was sleeping alone and slit his throat. After killing him, they dragged his body to a nearby forest, set it on fire, and returned home as if nothing had happened.
When Kambi’s sons returned and found him missing, they approached the local police. A case was registered and an investigation launched. It wasn’t long before the truth emerged. Police said they arrested the eight women and two others who allegedly assisted in the crime.
Officers recovered Kambi’s half-burned body from the forest and sent it for a post-mortem. During questioning, the women reportedly confessed that they had warned Kambi several times, but he continued to exploit them. They claimed he had even targeted widows in the village.
Police confirmed that the victim had a record of sexually harassing several women in the area. He was also warned about his behaviour more than once.
Police said they would carry out a thorough investigation to ensure justice is served according to the law.