Forester death case: Rayagada DFO suspended 

Rayagada divisional forest officer (DFO) Debendra Behera has been suspended in connection with the death of forester Sanjay Nayak, whose body was found hanging in his official quarters on September 18. 

The Forest, Environment and Climate Change department on Saturday issued an order informing about the action taken against Behera.

After the death of Sanjay, his wife Priyanka Subudhi had alleged that the DFO had been torturing her husband mentally for percentage commission from various projects of the department under the region. Unable to bear the pressure, he took the extreme step, she had alleged.

In this connection, a case has been registered against Behera at Bhawanipatna Town police station. 

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As per the order, the PCCF has ordered the Chief Conservator of Forests (T&D), Cuttack Circle to do an inquiry into the matter and submit a report. 

“Now, therefore, pending receipt of inquiry report from Chief Conservator of Forests (T&D), Cuttack Circle and to facilitate smooth inquiry and prevent tampering, Shri Debendra Kumar Behera, OFS-I (SB), Silviculturist, Rayagada Division is placed under suspension. with immediate effect in terms of sub-rule-(1)(b) of Rule-12 of the OCS (CC&A) Rules, 1962 and shall remain under suspension until further order,” read the order. 

“It is further ordered that during the period of suspension, the Headquarters of Shri Debendra Kumar Behera, OFS-I (SB), Silviculturist, Rayagada Division is fixed in the office of the PCCF & HoFF, Odisha, Bhubaneswar and Shri Behera shall not leave the Headquarter without obtaining the prior permission of the Competent Authority,” it further added.