Odisha cricketer Rajashree Swain found hanging in forest

Cuttack: In a highly shocking incident, woman cricketer Rajashree Swain of Odisha’s Puri district was today found hanging from a tree in a forest of Cuttack’s Athagarh area, police said.

Though the reason behind the death was yet to be ascertained, it is being suspected that she was murdered as the body bore injury marks while the eyes were damaged.

Earlier, she had gone missing from Cuttack city under mysterious circumstances. Her coach had lodged a complaint in this regard with the Mangalabag police.

Her scooter was found abandoned in the forest, which had raised the suspicion of foul play. Besides, her mobile phone was found switched off.

According to reports, as many as 25 women cricketers, including Rajashree, were part of a training camp organised at Bajrakabati here for an upcoming national-level cricket tournament scheduled to be held in Puducherry. All of them were staying in a hotel in the locality.

The Odisha team was announced on January 10 while Rajashree couldn’t make it to the final list.

Next day, the players went to a cricket field in Tangi area for practice, However, Rajashree informed her coach that she was going to Puri to meet her father. As she went missing, the coach filed a complaint with the police.