Pranati Das, woman control dealer who was set ablaze by five assailants on Monday evening at her house near Rambha Panthanivas in Ganjam district, died at a Visakhapatnam hospital early on Tuesday morning.
According to information, as her health condition deteriorated, Pranati was shifted to the Seven Hills Hospital at Visakhapatnam on Monday night. On reaching the hospital, she fell unconscious and was declared dead by the doctors, sources said.
Meanwhile, the Ganjam police arrested four miscreants including Sana Ramachandrapur panchayat sarpanch Manas Nahak in connection with the murder. The other three have been identified as Bilasa Nahak, Kedar Nahak and Sudhir Nahak, all belonging to Diandei village under the Rambha police station in the district. They were forwarded to court while the main accused Kameswar Nahak of the same village was absconding, said Ganjam SP Ashish Singh.
According to reports, the murder was an outcome of past rivalry between the sarpanch and Pranati, who too was wife of CRPF Jawan Parshuram Nahak of Diandei, over control dealership. The sarpanch was trying to get the dealership and Pranati came in the way. This resulted in a row between the duo.
The rivalry came to an end when the miscreants led by the sarpanch attacked Pranati and set her on fire when she was returning to her rented house at Rambha. Ironically, when the victim was returning from her sister Prabhati’s house, power went off making the area dark.
Taking advantage of the darkness, the miscreants first attacked Pranati with a sharp knife and then poured petrol on her and set her on fire before leaving the spot, sources said. After the incident, she was rushed to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital for treatment where the police recorded her statement.
The victim reportedly disclosed three names of the miscreants.
later, when victim’s condition deteriorated, she was shifted to the Seven Hills Hospital in Visakhapatnam where she died.
After her death, her sister Prabhati alleged that Pranati was repeatedly getting threats since cyclone Phailin from some political elements. She had been receiving threat calls from the sarpanch as well, she alleged.
Sources said, Pranati had lodged a complaint with the Rambha police a few days ago after getting life threatening call from sarpanch Manas. Reacting upon the incident, former Deputy Speaker of Odisha Assembly and senior BJP leader Ramchandra Panda strongly demanded Crime Branch probe into the case. Panda also said liquor mafias and anti-socials run a parallel administration in the district leaving the district administration helpless.
Meanwhile, State Commission for Women (SCW) asked a report from Ganjam SP in the case. SCW chairperson lopamudra Buxipatra said the panel would try to begin the trial in a fast track court within a month.
“I’ve talked to the local IIC, the SP and the District Collector of Ganjam about the case,” Buxipatra said, adding, “We will try to submit chargesheet in the case within 15 days so that the trial can be started within a month.”