No breakthrough yet in Odisha teacher murder as SC deadline ends

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Rayagada, Mar 28:

With the two-month deadline set by the Supreme Court ending a week ago, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the sensational murder of Itishree Pradhan, the lady teacher of Tikiri Upper Primary School in Odisha’s Rayagada district, who had succumbed to severe burn injuries on November 1, 2013, is yet to make any headway.

Following a writ petition filed by Sudipta Lenka, a law student from Bengaluru, the Supreme Court had directed the CBI to probe the case on January 20 this year. The apex court had directed the Central agency to submit the inquiry report within two months besides apprehending the culprits involved in the case.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the CBI comprising nine members, including SP BK Singh, DSP MK Pathak and Inspector RD Sharma, began the probe on February 25 in Rayagada.

The team split into three teams and visited Tikiri, Kashipur and Rayagada for investigation during their week-long stay in the district.

During their investigation, the teams visited the Tikiri Upper Primary School and collected information from the school staff, including the headmaster and peons. The personnel also met the former headmaster Chandrasekhar Panda and interrogated him.

CBI sleuths then met the accused Netrananda Dandasena, presently lodged in jail, his wife and son, and the owner of the house where the victim was staying.

They also verified documents in the jail as part of their investigation.

The team later visited Sarba Sikshya Abhijan office, District Education Office, Block Education Office among other places. In addition to this, the cops visited the Kashipur Block office for examination.

While on their visit to various offices, the sleuths also took photocopies of some relevant documents for further examination. They also generated bank account details of the victim, sources said.

During the course of their investigation, at least 35 persons were interrogated on more than two occasions, sources added.

Besides, posters of the accused were put up and appeals were made to the people to come forward to provide information to CBI to their New Delhi office or their temporary office at the district collector’s office premises.

Meanwhile, the SIT team has started its second phase investigation into the case.

While the CBI sniffs political involvement in the case, it summoned former Zilla Parishad member Binod Nayak yesterday afternoon for interrogation.

CRCC Duryodhan Majhi, Tikiri UP School headmaster Jogeswar Turuk and two wives of Netrananda Dandasena were also interrogated yesterday.