New York, November 12, 2004—The battered body of a local newspaper editor from the eastern state of Orissa was found by the side of a highway near the village of Bhagirathipur on Tuesday, November 9, police sources told the Press Trust of India (PTI), a national newswire service.

Dilip Mohapatra, editor of the Oriya-language newspaper Aji Kagoj, disappeared on Monday, November 8. His body was discovered the next day on the side of the NH-42 national highway in Orissa with his hands and legs tied and a head wound, PTI reported. Local journalists confirmed the murder but knew of no specific motive.

The Committee to Protect Journalists is investigating the case to determine whether Mohapatra's murder could be related to his work as a journalist.

A suspect has been detained in the case, according to PTI.