How tailor's tag, online payment helped cops crack murder mystery in Odisha

The incident occurred on December 13, when the body of a 35-year-old woman was found near the banks of Kathjodi river in Cuttack under the Kandarpur police station.

A blood-stained shirt with a tailor's tag found near the crime scene and an online payment transaction helped the Odisha police crack the murder mystery of a woman, whose body was found near the Kathijodi river in Cuttack. The police have arrested the deceased's husband and two brother-in-laws in connection with the case.

The incident occurred on December 13, when the body of a 35-year-old woman was found near the banks of Kathjodi river in Cuttack under the Kandarpur police station.

With no missing complaint lodged in any police station in the state, the body remained unidentified. The only clues the police had to work with was the murder weapon - a chopper knife, and a blood-stained shirt and pants found at the crime scene.

News agency PTI, quoting Cuttack DCP Jagmohan Meena, reported that the deceased woman had tattoos on both hands, but they could not help with her identification.

On the blood-stained clothes, they also found a tag which had the words 'New Star Tailors' stitched on it.

"Around 10 tailors with this name or similar names in Odisha were verified, and their tag design was compared with the tag found at the murder spot. However, there was no match found. A tailor in Ganjam district informed us that this kind of tag is used in Gujarat," DCP Meena said.

The Gujarat police were able to find a tailor in Surat. When they searched for the number '3833' on the tailor's tag, they found in his records that a shirt was stitched to a person named 'Babu'.

There was no other detail or clue available. However, DCP Meena said, "The tailor gave one important clue that he had to return Rs 100 to the customer 'babu', but he did not have the change. So, he transferred Rs 100 on the e-wallet of one mobile number. That number was contacted and it was found that he is a friend of 'Babu'," he informed.

On further investigation, 'Babu' was identified as Jagannath Duhuri (27). He was found to be on a train to Surat as the train was passing through Rayagada, he was nabbed by the police.

Upon interrogation, Duhuri revealed that he was the brother-in-law of the deceased. He also confessed that he committed the crime with the help of his brother Balaram Duhuri and cousin Hapi Duhuri. All three accused have been arrested, police said.

"Balaram Duhuri was the husband of the deceased woman. The motive of the crime is a chronic marital dispute between the deceased and her husband. Balaram was doubting that the deceased was having an extra-marital affair with someone," the DCP said.