Paralakhemundi ACF death: Official was killed by wife, alleges father

Paralakhemundi: In a shocking twist in the case of Paralakhemundi Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra’s death, the father of the deceased has alleged that he was killed by his wife.

“I suspect that my son has been murdered by my daughter-in-law with the help of someone. It is difficult to believe that he was burnt to death while only the husband-wife duo was present in the house at that time,” said Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra’s father.

On the other hand, the deceased’s uncle said Soumya Ranjan was being tortured by his wife. “He had recently telephoned his aunt and told her that his wife was torturing him. Last night, his wife informed me over phone that he sustained burn injuries and was hospitalised. When I asked her about the circumstances under which the mishap took place, she could not answer satisfactorily,” said Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra’s uncle.

The official reportedly sustained critical burn injuries in a fire mishap at his residence here, last night and later succumbed while undergoing treatment at a hospital, today.

According to reports, neighbours rushed to the house of the official as his wife screamed. They found Mohapatra in a half-charred state, rescued him, and took him to hospital.

He was initially admitted to the Gajapati District Headquarters Hospital, then to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur and later shifted to a private hospital in Cuttack as his condition deteriorated.

However, he breathed his last during treatment, this morning.

Police have started an investigation into the incident.