Odisha cops get Atma Baba on two-day remand

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Salepur, Sep 14:

Odisha police have got self-styled godman and head of the Rameshwar Anand Atma Ashram in Salepur Alok Bisoi arrested in connection with the murder of a youth whose half-burnt body was found in the ashram yesterday on two-day remand.

Police produced the Baba in a local court and sought the permission of the court to take him on a three-day remand for questioning. But the court granted only a two-day remand, which will start from Monday.  The Baba was sent to the Salepur sub jail at the end of hearing.

An axe and a club allegedly used in the murder have been seized from the ashram premises, police sources said.

The police are looking for three more persons involved in the murder of Ashok Patra, a 35-year old local youth.

“The Baba and his two nephews are involved in the killing of the youth. They poured ghee on the body after killing him and set him ablaze,” said Cuttack SP(Rural) Gurudas Kundu.

Tension still prevails in the area with police cordoning off the ashram after an angry mob ransacked the ashram and burnt parts of the building yesterday. The villagers had blocked Cuttack-Chandbali road demanding a Crime Branch into the case.

In another development in the murder case, scientific teams have investigated the crime scene and collected samples and photos for further investigation.

Samples collected by the team, collected axe, stick, photographs from the spot, “We have collected samples from the area of the incident and have taken pictures. We will do further investigation,” the head of the scientific team said.

Meanwhile, the family is afraid and in terror after the brutal killing of Ashok Patra, native of Chahapada village who was allegedly murdered before being set afire in the Anantatma ashram premises.

“They will kill us and our children. I cannot blame anyone. He had gone to the rally and how did he reach to the ashram I do not know,” said the mother of the deceased.

Patra’s is wife said; “He had no connection with the ashram people, never went there. Yesterday he had gone there after being called by someone.”

His father has alleged political rivalry and money might be the reason for the murder.

“I had sent my son to MLA Prakash Behera’s rally. He then went to the ashram with four persons – Padmalaya Sahu, Pabni Sahu and Naral Sahu and Madan Sahu, ” said Prabat Kumar Patra, the father of  the deceased.

He alleged that his son has been killed because of money, “My son has been killed by Alok Bisoi. He had taken Rs 40,000 from him. The murder was committed in the ashram but its also politically motivated,” said Patra.