Parala suicides: Siblings meet Odisha CM urging probe expedition

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Mar 27:

In a significant development in the Paralakhemundi suicides case, siblings of deceased Ananga Manjari Patra, former manager of Paralakhemundi Maharaja Gajapati Gopinath Narayan Deb, today met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence here urging him for expedition of probe into the matter.

They also demanded strict action against those involved in the incident, reports said.

Assuring them of quick action in the case, the Chief Minister said he would discuss the matter with Crime Branch Special DG.

“We are yet to get justice after eight months of the incident for which we met the Chief Minister personally urging him to ‘speed up’ the investigation. Patnaik assured us of quick action and said that he would discuss the matter with Crime Branch Special DG,” said Amulya Patra, Ananga Manjari’s brother.

Amulya Patra had written a letter to Patnaik earlier this month with similar demands.

He had earlier lodged a complaint with the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) alleging tardy progress in the investigations by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch.

It may be recalled that the body of Ananga Manjari Patra and her two other siblings was recovered from her Jangam Sahi residence on August 21 last year.

Another brother, Santosh, was rescued from the house, where he was found lying on the floor, in a critical condition. The following day, he died at MKCG Medical College and Hospital.

Three suicide notes were later recovered from the residence wherein names of 11 persons were mentioned. The writers of the notes had held local MLA K Surya Rao and a particular television channel responsible for their deaths.

It is worth mentioning here that Rao had led a campaign demanding action against the Ananga and her brother who worked as a personal assistant to the king for keeping the Maharaja under house arrest and trying to sell off royal properties.