VSSUT student death: Now focus is to find out if there any abetment to suicide, says Sambalpur SP

Amid the mystery surrounding the death of Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) girl student Chinmayi Priyadarshini Sahoo, Sambalpur Superintendent of Police (SP) B Gangadhar on Tuesday claimed that the student died due to drowning.

Addressing the media, the Sambalpur SP said, “After analysing the statements of students, eyewitnesses, WhatsApp messages, CCTV footage and especially the post-mortem report, it is quite evident that the death is caused due to drowning.”

Asked about the progress of the investigation, Gangadhar said, “Our inquiry now focuses on whether it is an accident or negligence act on the part of any person or is there any abetment for suicide.”

“No one was present at the PC bridge when the incident took place. So far all the technical evidences support drowning as the cause of death. If we consider circumstantial evidence, no intention has been established yet. So it is not a murder,” Gangadhar clarified.

Sharing information about the lie-detection test reports, he said, “We cannot term the death as an accidental drowning as the investigation into the matter is still on. No deceit to response was noticed in the lie-detection test reports of both the suspects-Pritiman Dey and Manas Tudu. If required, narco test will be carried out.”

“The two suspects will be released on 160 bond and they have to appear before police whenever required for the investigation. As Manas Tudu’s name was mentioned in FIR, we had detained him,” he added.

“As per the CCTV footage, they were in intoxicated condition under the influence of alcohol and contraband items. The viscera report will confirm the same. We will also send digital evidence for physiological autopsy,” he stated.

Notably, Chinmayi, a student of the Information Technology department of VSSUT, Burla in Sambalpur attended the University’s convocation program on February 28 and received her degree. Later, she had gone to the Power Channel in Burla with her friend and reportedly gone missing after falling into the channel. Her body was fished out on March 1.

(Reported by Sanjay Jena, OTV)