Malkangiri: The situation in Odisha’s Malkangiri district is reported to be peaceful and under control after days of violent clashes between residents of the tribal village Rakhelguda and the Bengali settler village MV-26. The unrest was triggered by the discovery of the headless body of a 51-year-old tribal woman, Laka Podiami, on December 4th.
However, to be on safe side the State Government has extended the ban on access to social media platforms and mobile internet services in Malkangiri district until 12:00 PM on Thursday, December 11, 2025.
Authorities, including the District Collector and Superintendent of Police, convened a Joint Peace Committee meeting on Tuesday with approximately 30-35 representatives from both communities. Following the discussions, both sides agreed to cease animosity, maintain peace, and work to restore communal harmony in the area. The tribal community representatives reportedly condemned the violence, which included the torching of houses in MV-26, and apologised to the Bengali community, stating that the attack was wrong.
In connection with the murder, one Bengali settler, Subha Ranjan Mandal, has been arrested. Investigators, including a scientific team and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), are continuing extensive searches for the missing head of the victim to collect further evidence. The last rites for the deceased woman were performed earlier this week after the post-mortem.
The Odisha government has repeatedly extended the suspension of social media access, including platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and X, as a preventive measure to stop the spread of inflammatory messages and misinformation. The restriction was last extended until 12 PM on December 11th. Security forces, including the police and BSF, remain heavily deployed across the affected areas to maintain law and order.
An initial assessment by the district administration indicates that 163 houses were damaged during the violence. Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Manjhi has approved an ex-gratia amount of ₹4 lakh for the victim’s family, of which ₹30,000 has already been given to the victim’s son for the funeral rites.