What happened in Malkangiri? Uneasy calm in Odisha village after clashes; internet ban continues

An uneasy calm prevailed in Odisha’s Malkangiri district on Tuesday after residents of two villages clashed with each other following the recovery of a headless body of a tribal woman.

One person has been arrested in connection with the murder.

Several people were injured, and around 200 houses were damaged in the clashes, prompting the government to issue prohibitory orders in the two villages. On Tuesday, authorities extended the suspension of internet services until 12 pm on December 10.

“As per the request of Collector and District Magistrate, Malkangiri, the Home Department hereby extends prohibition of the use and access of social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, X and any other through internet and other medium of data services for another 18 hours up to 12 PM of 10.12.2025 in Malkangiri district,” said an official notification.

The deceased woman has been identified as Laka Podiami, a 51-year-old widow. The family members buried her body after the postmortem examination, though the severed head is yet to be found. As per the tradition of the Koya tribals, an artificial head made of clay was fitted on the body before it was laid to rest, said reports.

Police arrested Subha Ranjan Mandal (42) on Tuesday on charges of murder. He has reportedly confessed to the crime and said he had thrown the torso and the severed head into the river Poteru. The body was recovered on December 4.

Ravi Podiai, the victim’s son, said his mother went missing on December 1, and they filed a police complaint on December 3. Podiai said Mandal, the accused, was a sharecropper in their field.

“He has killed my mother when we asked him not to cultivate our land anymore, the son claimed,” he was quoted as saying by PTI news agency.

‘Situation under control’

The clashes erupted on Sunday afternoon when tribals of Rakhalguda village allegedly attacked MV-26 village, a Bengali settler's area.

Bengali settlers' leader Gourang Karmakar alleged that at least 200 houses have been affected in the clash, of which 150 dwelling units have been set on fire. He urged the administration to provide compensation, as most of the affected persons were innocent, poor people.

Both parties agreed to maintain peace after the authorities held at least three rounds of discussion with them.

District Collector Somesh Kumar Upadhyay said the situation was under control and there was no fresh incident of violence.

“The family will be given Rs 4 lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. The situation was under control, and there was no fresh violence in either of the two villages under Korkunda police station area,” Upadhyay told reporters.