Odisha: 'Head Severed' Murder Sparks Violence, MV-26 Becomes Ghost Village

• MV-26 village in Malkangiri, Odisha, became a "ghost village" after violence erupted, displacing 188 families.
• The violence was triggered by the brutal murder of Lekh Padiami, a tribal woman, whose body was found decapitated.
• Suspicion regarding the murder led an armed tribal mob to attack MV-26, burning over 150 homes and forcing residents to flee.
• Most residents of MV-26 are Hindu migrants from Bangladesh who had settled there decades ago.
• Authorities formed an SIT, deployed security, suspended internet services, and made an arrest in connection with the murder and violence.

Why It Matters: A brutal murder led to mass displacement, revealing deep societal fault lines.