In a significant development in the Paralakhemundi suicides case, siblings of deceased Ananga Manjari Patra, former manager of Paralakhemundi Maharaja Gajapati Gopinath Narayan Deb, on Monday met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence here urging him for expediting the probe into the matter.
They also demanded strict action against those involved in the incident. Assuring them of quick action in the case, the Chief Minister said he would discuss the matter with the Crime Branch Special DG, sources said.
“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, saying he would discuss the matter with the Crime Branch Special DG,” said Amulya Patra, Ananga Manjari’s brother.
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 the MKCG Medical College Hospital, Brahmapur.
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 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.