Bhubaneswar, April 6: In a murder reminiscent of the Naina Sahni case, a woman in Malkangiri district was hacked to pieces and roasted in a stove at a snacks factory.

The murder committed late on March 23 was detected yesterday when the victim?s brother lodged an FIR with Kalimela police accusing his brother-in-law T. Ramaswamy of murdering the woman.

Police then found that the murder was committed, allegedly by Ramaswamy, after a godman told him that his wife Suryakanti?s death would bring him wealth.

Ramaswamy, who hails from Madurai in Tamil Nadu, ran a chanachur factory in Kalimela. He had married Suryakanti, also from the southern state, 15 years ago.

Suryakanti led a trouble-free marital life with Ramaswamy, who always wanted more money than what the factory provided. ?In a bid to acquire more wealth he reportedly sought the assistance of a tantrik, who first sacrificed a black kitten and burnt its carcass in the stove. When the desired result was not achieved the godman convinced Ramaswamy that his wife was possessed by an evil spirit. He told the man that his wife had to be eliminated,? said S. Murmu, a sub-inspector at Kalimela police station.

On the night of March 23, Ramaswamy and the godman choked Suryakanti to death with a pillow. He then ordered seven workers, six of them minors, to cut the body into pieces and burn them.

When none of them came forward, Ramasawamy and the godman threatened Mayalagan, a 13-year-old worker, forcing him to take part in the gruesome act.

After the body was cut into pieces, Ramaswamy, the godman and the workers burnt it in the stove. The ashes were dumped the following day.

Soon after the FIR was lodged, the local police raided the factory but could not find the accused.

?The workers, including the minors, were arrested and have confessed to have cut and burnt the woman?s body,? said Murmu. A special team will be sent to Tamil Nadu shortly to arrest Ramaswamy.