Bhubaneswar: The body of an assistant section officer (ASO) was spotted today while hanging in his rented house under mysterious circumstances in Acharya Vihar locality of Bhubaneswar.

The deceased ASO was identified as Mora Marandi. He had been working in the Steel and Mines department of Lok Seva Bhavan in the State Capital. He was previously recruited in the 2024 Batch.

According to a source, the ASO was found while hanging in a room of the rented house. The youth was staying along with a roommate named Lalmohan. Both were working in the State secretariat.

“At around 2.00 PM, his friend (Lalmohan) came and told me that the main door of the house (rented portion) was closed from inside. When his friend and I went to the backside of the house, we saw trough a window that he was hanging from a ceiling fan,” owner of the private house said.

“Immediately, I informed the PCR. After police reached the spot, the room was broken open. However, the youth had died by that time. He had been staying here for the last six months. I do not know anything if he was under stress or not,” the house owner further said mediapersons.

On being informed, local police reached the spot and seized the body. Police have initiated a probe. The probe team is questioning some neighbours of the ASO to gather more information.

“The exact cause of the death has not been ascertained yet. As prima facie evidence suggests, it appears to be a case of death by suicide and we are probing the death from all probable angles. The reason behind it can be confirmed only after a post-mortem report comes in,” a senior cop expressed.