Cameraman Manas Murder Case: Deceased’s Mother Seeks CM Naveen’s Help For Justice

With the police yet to make a headway in the sensational murder case of Nayagarh cameraman Manas Swain, mother of the deceased, Jamuna Swain on Sunday sought CM Naveen Patnaik’s help for justice in the case.

Though one and half months have passed, police are still clueless about the whereabouts of Sarmistha Rout, the owner of the web channel where Manas used to work. Sarmishta is believed to be the mastermind behind the murder case.

“We have voted Naveen Patnaik to power. He must intervene into the matter so that we can get speedy justice,” said Jamuna.

Meanwhile, the investigating team has recovered a mobile phone of Manas from a betel shop owner. A man had found the phone from the road side near Sankharidiha in Dharmasala and handed it over to the betel shop owner.

“I had found the mobile phone near a bridge and gave to the betel shop owner,” said one Suresh Nayak.

“I let the mobile switched on thinking that the person who has lost it will call. I received two calls on the mobile phone and was told to keep the phone with me so that he can collect it from me. As no one came, I handed over the mobile phone to Dharmasala police,” said Susant Guru, the betel shop owner.

Meanwhile, speculations are rife that Chandbali police is questioning Deepak, another accused in the murder case, at Bhadrak Reserve police barrack.

Manas, a resident of Godipokhari village in Ranpur area of Nayagarh, worked as a cameraman in a Bhubaneswar-based web portal, Sampoorna, run by Sharmistha Rout who claimed herself to be a journalist.

On February 7, Manas had gone to shoot a wedding in Chandbali area of Bhadrak but went missing under mysterious circumstances.

Following his disappearance, his family members filed complaints at Ranpur, Bhubaneswar and Chandbali. Acting on the complaint, police tracked down one Bhagyadhar Nayak, a driver who had ferried Manas to Chandbali.

Following some disclosures by Bhagyadhar, on March 12, the Chandbali police, with help of a team of cops from Ranpur, recovered the body of Manas from Badhipatna hills in Rajsunakhala area of Nayagarh.