Russian tourists’ death in Odisha: Crime Branch to visit Rayagada for probe

The Crime Branch of Odisha police will leave for Rayagada district on Wednesday to probe the mysterious death of two Russian tourists in a Rayagada-based hotel. 

According to sources Russian lawmaker Pavel Anthom, 65, was found lying in a pool of blood outside the hotel on December 24 while his co-traveller Vladimir Bidenov, was found dead at the same hotel on December 22. He was found lying unconscious in his room on the first floor of the hotel with a few empty wine bottles around him.

Meanwhile, Crime Branch has asked the couple Turvo and Pan Senko accompanying Pavel to stay back and cooperate with the investigation.

Yesterday, the couple was brought to the Crime Branch office in Bhubaneswar from Rayagada district amid tight security. The tourist guide Jitendra Singh was also present there.

Crime Branch IG Amitendra Nath Sinha on Tuesday questioned the Russian couple to extract the reason behind their Rayagada visit, the link between Russia and Rayagada. 

The couple was asked about their plans on December 21 and December 22. The questioning was carried out till late hours of Tuesday, sources close to Crime Branch revealed.

Following the interrogation, the Russian couple and the tourist guide have been sent to Crime Branch Headquarters in Cuttack on Wednesday where its Director will grill the Russian couple and tour guide. 

It is learnt that the Crime Branch has brought the trio to Cuttack for further investigation to ascertain if Pavel Antov fell off the terrace of the hotel room or jumped and ended his life. The Crime Branch sleuths are also looking into other angles in the mysterious death. 

Earlier, Rayagada town police visited the hotel where the two Russian tourists died and launched an investigation to determine the circumstances leading to the deaths.