Couple found hanging inside rented house in Khurda

Khurda: A couple was found hanging inside a rented house at Samantarapur near Thengahat Chhak under Khurda Town police limits yesterday night.

The deceased couple has been identified as Soumyakant and Suchismita Patnaik of Pathuripada in Banki area of Cuttack district. According to sources, Soumyakant was working in Thiruvalla Petrochemicals Company in Khurda and was staying with his wife and eight-year-old daughter in a rented house.

Though the exact reason behind the deaths is yet to be established, brother of the deceased said that Soumyakant was under mental stress due to some issues with the company. He also alleged police's role in the suicide.

"He worked in Thiruvalla Petrochemicals and the company was not paying salary and harassing him. He was called to the police station over some issues in the company," informed Biswajit adding that Soumyajit committed suicide after coming back from the police station.

"Police might have tortured him and I also suspect the role of company authorities," added Soumyakant's brother.

According to sources, Soumyakant had earlier met with an accident while working in the company following which he was in a dispute with the company officials regarding the release of compensation money.

On Sunday, the company officials called him to the Khurda Town police station for discussions. Later he was found hanging with his wife inside his rented house.

Locals spotted the bodies inside the house and informed the police, who rushed to the spot and sealed the house. Meanwhile, a scientific team have also rushed to the spot and started investigation.

"Soumyakant was having some dispute with the company he was working in. We received information about the incident on Sunday night and rushed to the spot. The exact reason behind the deaths will be known after a detailed investigation," informed Khurda SDPO, Jugal Kishore Dash.