Manas Murder Case: Dayal Ashram Caretaker Claims She Gave Cameraman’s Last Letters To Sharmistha

In a new twist in the sensational murder case of Manas Swain, the caretaker of Dayal Ashram on Friday made a startling revelation by claiming that she had in her possession some letters which she found in the room where the Nayagarh cameraman was tortured to death. The letters were purportedly written by Manas before his death.

The caretaker said she found the letters from under a bed which she later handed over to Sharmishta Rout, the prime wanted accused in the brutal murder case. As per the lady caretaker, there were three letters which were kept in a polythene bag.

“I found the letters when I was cleaning the room. In the letter, Manas had mentioned his name, his contact number and his father’s name. He had also written that he was being tortured and those who had abducted him had also taken away Rs 4,000, his camera, wallet and bank passbook,” the caretaker said.

“Manas had written in the event if he died, his body should be sent to his village and should not be handed over to his tormentors,” she said. The Crime Branch has taken over the investigation of the Manas murder case after the Bhadrak Police failed to make any tangible headway.

So far five persons, including retired Odisha Information Service (OIS) officer Niranjan Sethi, have been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of 28-year-old cameraman.

Manas Swain, a resident of Godipokhari village in Ranpur area of Nayagarh had gone missing on February 7. He had come to Bhadrak from Bhubaneswar for shooting a marriage function. Subsequently, Manas was abducted, taken to a room at Dayal Ashram in Bhubaneswar where he was assaulted and tortured. Later, his body was disposed off in Nayagarh.

According to police, Manas was beaten up with bare hands and some weapon. The Chandbali police had recovered Manas' body from Badhipatna hills in Rajsunakhala area of Nayagarh on March 12.