College girl found hanging in Odisha’s Balangir

Patnagarh: A college girl was found hanging from a tree near Gangasagar village in Patnagarh area in Balangir district.

The deceased student has been identified as Ranju Dandasena, a Political Science student of Jawaharlal (Degree) College in Patnagarh.

According to reports, locals found the girl hanging from a Palash tree with her dupatta (long scarf) near Gangasagar village situated on Patnagarh-Kantabanji main road.

Police reached the spot on receiving information about the incident from locals. They seized a vanity bag and mobile phone reportedly belonging to the deceased girl from the spot. A scooter was also found near the scene. The investigation has been initiated to ascertain whether it was a suicide or murder case.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the girl belonged to Dumerpadar village.

However, family of the deceased girl alleged it as murder as her feet were found touching the ground.

“Somebody has hung my daughter after killing her,” claimed Pankajini Dandasena, mother of the deceased.

“She had no personal dispute with anyone during her studies. She had never indulged into fight with anyone at her college and at home. She had not made a phone call to us yesterday,” she said.

“She was staying at Meher hostel in Patnagarh Jawaharlal College. She was murdered and body was hung from the tree,” claimed the deceased girl’s father.

“The prima facie indicated that it was a suicidal hanging. The incident might have occurred last evening. The feet of the deceased were touching the ground due to swelling of the body caused by rain throughout the night.  Yet, we are waiting for the post-mortem report to reach the logical end,” a police official said.