Odisha Woman's Body Found Under Kitchen Slab in Rented House; Son Absconding

Late Monday night, police in Odisha's Puri town made a grim discovery: the decomposed body of a woman, concealed beneath the kitchen slab of her rented residence. The authorities suspect her son, who is currently untraceable, of being responsible for the killing.

The investigation was triggered by a complaint from the landlord, who resides in a different part of the building. She alerted the police to a persistent foul odor emanating from the home, which had reportedly been vacant for the past three to four days.

Upon arriving at the scene, police and a forensic team were forced to break down the door. Inside, they noticed fresh cement work in the kitchen area. After approximately four hours of meticulous effort, they uncovered the woman's body from a box-like structure built under the kitchen slab.

Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh stated that the landlord confirmed a woman and her son were the tenants. "We suspect the body is the woman's. Since her son is not present in the house and not reachable, he is our prime suspect," he said. The accused is believed to be in his 40s, and special teams comprising senior officers have been formed to trace him.

Based on circumstantial evidence, police believe the murder may have occurred before August 21, though a post-mortem report will provide further clarity. The manner of concealment—plastering over the body under the kitchen slab—suggests an attempt to mislead investigators. The motive for the alleged crime is still under investigation.

The landlord expressed shock, noting that the mother and son, who earned a living selling items near the Puri Jagannath temple, appeared to have a normal relationship. "The son took good care of his mother, and we never saw anything unusual," she said.