Kendrapara: Right To Information (RTI) activist Ranjan Das has been murdered, alleged a nine-member fact finding team of Odisha Congress after visiting the spot at Manikpur village in Kendrapara district on Saturday.
The Congress team led by Nishikant Mishra also met the family of the deceased RTI activist Ranjan Das and expressed displeasure over claims by police that Das died in an ‘accident’.
“On the direction of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president, a fact finding team met the family members of the deceased RTI activist. Their statements indicate towards a pre-planned murder,” said Congress leader Nishikant Mishra.
Mishra further stated that even after eight days, no progress has been made by police in the case which suggests that there is direct or indirect involvement of the cops in suppressing the facts.
“We demand Odisha government to order a Crime Branch probe into the case,” Mishra added.
It is pertinent to mention here that RTI district coordinator, Ranjan Das was found dead under mysterious condition near Beruhan village under Marshaghai police limits on February 1.
As Das’ body was found with multiple injuries in a ditch near his home, family members had alleged murder. However, police ruled out a case of murder and instead attributed it to an accident, sources said.
“It is not an accidental death, it's a murder case. We want the truth to come out and the miscreants involved in the killing must be arrested,” said Congress leader Ganeswar Behera.
Behera further stated that the Congress delegation would soon meet Odisha DGP to press for a Crime Branch probe into the incident. “Congress will be forced to launch agitation if the demand for a Crime Branch probe is not accepted,” he added.