A sense of shock and outrage gripped Charoti village in Balodabazar district on Saturday morning after the charred body of a young woman was found in a heap of paddy straw.
The victim was identified as Tejaswini Patel (26), daughter of Roop Singh Patel, a resident of Patelpara, Charoti.
Following an alert from villagers, a team from City Kotwali Police Station rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. The forensic team conducted a detailed examination of the site and collected vital evidence for investigation.
Police officials said preliminary findings suggest it is a case of murder, though the cause of death can only be confirmed after the post-mortem report and witness statements are reviewed. “We are examining all possible angles,” police said, adding that efforts are underway to trace the sequence of events leading to the crime.
The brutal killing has sparked a political storm, with the Chhattisgarh Congress holding the BJP led government responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation.
Party spokesperson Surendra Verma alleged that “under the BJP government, criminals have become so fearless that a poor daughter was tied up and burned alive. Her body bore injury marks, suggesting she was tortured before being killed. This incident proves that law and order in the state has collapsed.”
Verma further claimed that the crime rate has risen sharply across the state. “ During Diwali, six murders and 45 stabbing incidents were reported in the state. Instead of curbing crime, the government is promoting liquor trade,” he said.
Meanwhile, police have launched an intensive investigation. Forensic evidence is being analysed, and several residents of Charoti and nearby villages are being questioned. Authorities have not yet identified any suspects or determined the motive behind the crime.
The gruesome death of Tejaswini Patel has left the local community in shock and mourning. Villagers have urged the district administration to ensure justice and strengthen rural policing to prevent such heinous incidents in the future.