Two youths, who had left their homes together on Monday evening from the Kansa locality in Baleswar district, later went missing.
However, their families suspected murder after a motorcycle belonging to one of them was found abandoned near Blue Lake of Mitrapur under Nilagiri block in the district early on Tuesday morning.
Blood stains and chappals were also found near the motorcycle, suggesting murder, police said.
The youths were identified as Manoranjan Mohapatra and his friend Sipu.
According to Manoranjan’s elder brother, the duo had left home and did not return by night. At around 10 pm, the worried family members contacted him over his mobile phone but in vain as it showed ‘switched off’. The next morning, they heard about the motorcycle.
On being informed, a police team along with the dog squad, ODRAF and forensic personnel reached the spot and launched a probe. A frantic search was initiated in Blue Lake to locate the youths.
