Konark: A young girl was allegedly strangulated to death by her father at Kumuri village under Konark Police Limits of Puri district late on Monday night. The deceased has been identified as 22-year-old Kandhei.
Brother of the deceased girl alleged that their father Rabindra Pradhan who is a retired army official, strangulated her by using her dupatta and later hanged her body from the ceiling to make it appear like a suicide.
“Everything was fine in the evening, but then I was informed that my sister is dead early morning today. Earlier our father used to beat us and had threatened to kill us several times,” brother of the deceased girl, Rakesh Pradhan said.
Similarly, the aunt (the sister of the accused) of the girl also alleged that Rabindra regularly tortured the girl and killed her last night.
On the other hand Rabindra refuted the charges and said that his daughter committed suicide. “I don’t know the exact cause of death as I was asleep. I have not killed her and it seems that she has committed suicide,” said Rabindra.
Reportedly, Rakesh and Kandhei are Rabindra’s children from his first wife.
Meanwhile, on receiving information, Konark Police reached the spot and have initiated an investigation into the incident. “There is a mark on the neck of the deceased girl and bleeding through mouth. The exact cause of death can only be ascertained after a detailed investigation,” said investigating officer, Sridhar Mallick.