A tailor’s tag stitched to a blood-stained shirt found near a crime scene helped the Odisha Police solve a mysterious murder case, leading to the arrest of three individuals.
On December 13, the police recovered the body of a 35-year-old woman on the banks of the Kathjodi river in Cuttack, under the jurisdiction of the Kandarpur police station. Initially, the identity of the woman remained unknown, and no complaints had been lodged at any police station in the state. The police were left with few clues, apart from a chopper found near the crime scene, which was believed to be the weapon used in the murder.
Cuttack Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jagmohan Meena revealed that despite tattoos found on both arms of the deceased, they did not assist in identifying her. The breakthrough came when a blood-stained shirt and pants were discovered near the body. Both items were found to have a tag from ‘New Star Tailors,’ a clue the police focused on.
Investigating the origins of the tag, the police reached out to over 10 tailors across Odisha using similar names. However, none of the tags matched the one found on the garments. A crucial lead came from a tailor in Ganjam district, who informed the authorities that such tags were commonly used in Gujarat. This prompted the police to contact the Gujarat police, who located a tailor in Surat.
Upon investigation, the tailor confirmed that the number ‘3833’ on the tag corresponded to a shirt made for a customer named ‘Babu.’ Further inquiries revealed that Babu had been sent ₹100 through an e-wallet, and the contact number linked to the transaction led to one of his friends. This discovery ultimately pointed to 27-year-old Jaganath Duhuri, alias Babu or Bapi, from Kendrapada.
When the police tracked Babu down, they found him traveling by train to Surat. He was arrested while the train was passing through Rayagada. During interrogation, Babu revealed that he was the brother-in-law of the deceased woman. He admitted to having committed the murder with the help of his brother, Balaram Duhuri, and his cousin, Hapi Duhuri.
The motive behind the crime was a longstanding marital dispute. Balaram, the husband of the deceased, had been suspicious of his wife’s alleged extramarital affair, which ultimately led to the tragic event.
All three individuals—Babu, Balaram, and Hapi—have been arrested, and the case has been solved thanks to the breakthrough provided by the tailor’s tag. The investigation continues as the police gather further details related to the murder.
The quick thinking of the Odisha Police, combined with the seemingly small detail of a tailor’s tag, highlights how modern investigative techniques can lead to significant breakthroughs in criminal cases.
Sources By Agencies