Suspicious death of Laxmi Majhi: CFSL team begins probe in Rayagada

Three days after tribals observed a dawn-to-dusk bandh across Rayagada district seeking a CBI probe into the suspicious death of ‘Maa Gruha’ warden Laxmi Majhi, a team of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) from New Delhi visited Rayagada on Monday and started an investigation.   

Eighteen days have passed since the charred body of Laxmi Majhi was found in the Maa Gruha located on the premises of Chandrapur community health centre on December 21. Laxmi was working as a warden at Maa Gruha. 

Laxmi's father had filed a complaint at Chandrapur Police Station on December 22 alleging that his daughter was killed after being raped.  

Also Read: Laxmi Majhi's death mystery: BJP Mahila Morcha demands CBI probe

As per reports, a two-member CFSL team reached Chandrapur on Monday and started probing the case from multiple angles. The team visited Maa Gruha and spoke to nurses and some staff. Thereafter, the CFSL team reached Chandrapur Police Station and held a discussion with the police personnel before speaking to the superintendent of police in this regard. 

On the other hand, the Crime Branch investigating the case for the last 11 days has allegedly failed to make any headway. 

Earlier the president of Zilla Adivasi Mahasangh(tribal outfit), Appalswami Kadraka alleged that the Rayagada Police failed to crack Laxmi Majhi’s case and the post-mortem report has not been made public. The tribal body accused the State government of covering up the case and said that the police are trying to protect some influential persons involved in the murder case.