Class 10 girl found hanging in Odisha’s Puri, mother alleges murder by father and stepmother

A death that police initially treated as suicide in Puri district has taken a serious twist, after the biological mother of the deceased 15-year-old lodged a complaint alleging her daughter was murdered by her father, step-mother and three other relatives.

According to reports, the girl’s body was discovered hanging in a rented house in Andhia Sahi, Nimapada, on Tuesday. Following an alert from the father, Nimapada police registered an unnatural death case and began an investigation.

On Wednesday night, the mother, who lives separately in Konark after her husband’s second marriage, came forward with claims that it was not a suicide.

Fresh Allegations Against Family Members

In her complaint, she has named her former husband, his second wife, the latter’s mother, and her husband’s brother-in-law, accusing them of plotting her daughter’s death. She alleged that the girl faced constant mental harassment from her stepmother and was threatened repeatedly.

The mother also alleged that after killing the girl, the accused hung the body to stage a suicide and mislead the police. She also accused the father and his family of deliberately keeping her in the dark.

“My daughter had no prior disease or health conditions. They killed her and are now trying to pass it off as suicide. I am sure that they have killed my daughter. I will not leave the police station unless they investigate it. As her mother, I want justice for my daughter. They have killed her, and that is the truth,” said the deceased girl’s mother.

Questioning the Initial Probe

In an interaction with the press, the mother also sharply criticised the initial police handling of the case, asking why officers acted on the father’s statement alone and did not speak to her before starting the investigation.

The woman has demanded immediate and strict action against all the named accused, insisting the case be investigated as a murder rather than an unnatural death.

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Meanwhile, police confirmed receipt of her complaint and said further steps would be taken based on the evidence collected.