Police in Mahasamund on Thursday arrested an independent councillor and two of his associates after the body of a 31‑year‑old man who went missing from Mandir Hasoud was recovered buried in river sand along the Mahanadi, officials said.

Victim identified, arrested
According to police, the deceased has been identified as Bhuvaneshwar (31), a resident of Nakti who worked as an operator at Monet company. He was reported missing by family members after he failed to return home on the evening of May 22. Local police in Mandir Hasoud registered a missing person complaint before the investigation led to Mahasamund.

Water dispute during drinking
Initial reports indicate Bhuvaneshwar had been drinking near a liquor kiln in Mandir Hasoud when an argument over water broke out with councillor Nohr Das Ratre (also known as Golu Ratre) and others, police said. Sources familiar with the probe told reporters the verbal spat escalated into a physical confrontation between Bhuvaneshwar and the councillor.

Taken to riverbank, beaten
Police said Ratre, along with two friends — identified as Amit Singh Rajput and Hemchand Banjare — allegedly forced Bhuvaneshwar into a car and drove him to a sandbank on the Mahanadi in Mahasamund. There the three men allegedly assaulted him with fists and kicks. The beatings reportedly left Bhuvaneshwar grievously injured; he succumbed at the spot, officials added.

Body concealed in sand
After the assault, the suspects, with the help of a relative from Nandgaon, allegedly dug a pit on a small sand island and buried the body to conceal evidence, Mahasamund police said. Family members and neighbours grew alarmed after contact was lost; Bhuvaneshwar’s wife had last spoken to him around 10pm on the night he went missing, according to ASP (Rural) Abhishek Jha.

Break in the case
Investigators tracked the victim’s last known location to the Mandir Hasoud area and questioned people who had been drinking with him. “On the basis of leads and suspicious movements, we detained three persons for questioning,” ASP Jha told reporters. Under sustained questioning, the three suspects confessed to the killing, police said.

Recovery and FIR
Following the admissions, police teams from Mandir Hasoud reached Mahasamund and carried out excavation at the spot pointed out by the suspects. The body was exhumed from the sand and recovered for post‑mortem. Because the incident and recovery fell under Mahasamund jurisdiction, local police registered a case under relevant sections, including provisions of BNS code 103, 238 and 3(5), and launched a formal murder investigation.

Family reaction, local scene
Relatives and neighbours were seen weeping outside Bhuvaneshwar’s home after the body was recovered. Residents told reporters they had known the victim for years; some said the accused councillor was a known local figure, and the arrest has stirred unease in the area. Police said they are interrogating the three suspects to establish motive, sequence of events and whether any other persons were involved.

Investigative steps ahead
Investigators are awaiting the post‑mortem report to establish cause and time of death, and have seized the vehicle allegedly used in the incident for forensic checks, officials said. Further forensic analysis is being carried out on the burial site to gather additional evidence. The enquiry will also examine whether prior disputes existed between the men and whether alcohol or other aggravating factors played a role.

Public safety and probe
Local authorities have assured residents of a fast‑tracked probe. “We are following all leads, carrying out forensic tests, and will file charge sheets as evidence permits,” an officer involved in the investigation said. Meanwhile, the Mandir Hasoud police continue to assist the Mahasamund team as the case proceeds.