Cameraman Manas Swain Murder: Odisha CB seals ‘Dayal Ashram’ run by Sarmistha Rout

Bhubaneswar: Investigating into the cameraman Manas Swain murder case, the Odisha Crime Branch today sealed the ‘Dayal Ashram’ old age home at Sundarpada here, which was run by prime accused Sarmistha Rout.

The investigators reportedly got some evidence from the old age home, following which it was sealed.

Earlier in the day, a team of Crime Branch officers arrived at the spot along with a forensic team to carry out investigation. Manas was allegedly thrashed to death at the old age home.

A sensational twist came to the case when police on March 21 arrested former Information & Public Relation (I&PR) Director (Technical) Niranjan Sethi over his alleged involvement in the abduction and killing of Manas. He was an Odisha Information Service (OIS) officer and retired in February.

Police have so far arrested six persons– Niranjan Sethi, his associate Ranjan Nayak, Bhagyadhar Nayak, Vivek Nayak, Krushna Chandra Nayak and Sarmistha’s brother Parameswar Rout– in this case.

Efforts were on by police to trace and apprehend Sarmistha and her associate Jhuna Bhoi.

As per police, Manas had possessed a memory card containing videos and photos which could have landed Sarmistha in trouble, for which she was trying to get the memory card.

Manas Swain, a resident of Godipokhari village in Ranpur area of Nayagarh district, was working as a cameraman for a Bhubaneswar-based web portal ‘Sampoorna’ run by Sarmistha Rout.

Manas was allegedly kidnapped when he was returning from Chandbali area in Bhadrak district on February 7. He had gone there to shoot a wedding function.

His family members had lodged a missing complaint with the Chandbali police on February 14.

During probe, police found the involvement of Bhagyadhar Nayak, Vivek Nayak and Krushna Chandra Nayak in abducting Manas and arrested the trio on March 12.

The abductors allegedly took Swain to ‘Dayal Ashram’ old age home at Sundarpada in Bhubaneswar. It was being run by Sarmistha.

Manas was assaulted and murdered at the old age home on the night of February 7 while the body was buried in Nayagarh district. Police had exhumed Swain’s body near Badhipatna hills in Rajsunakhala area of the district on March 12.