Jajpur: Amidst tight security, the Jajpur district administration on Friday undertook a massive drive to demolish the controversial Rangashala, the guest house at Haridaspur where lady panchayat executive officer (PEO) Smitarani Biswal died under mysterious circumstances in October last year.
Despite protests by the local sarpanch Madhusmita Bhadra, who happens to be the wife of accused Rupesh Bhadra in the case, the district administration carried out the demolition of the guest house. Four magistrates and two platoons of police force were deployed to maintain law and order during the demolition drive.
“The guest house was constructed illegally on government land. After completion of necessary legal process, the unauthorised structure was razed down today,” said Jajpur Collector, Ranjan Kumar Das.
Earlier, Madhusmita had opposed the demolition of the guest house. “On which ground the house was demolished today as the notice to vacate was served a day before. There are hundreds of encroachments in the district. Why the authorities went ahead with the demolition in such arbitrary manner?” she questioned.
It is pertinent to mentioned that police had arrested Rupesh after the lady PEO had allegedly committed suicide at the guest house on October 16 last year. The incident had triggered public outrage with opposition parties including BJP targeting ruling-BJD on the issue.
The guest house had come up on 23 decimal of government land and was under the possession of Rupesh’s brother Rakesh Bhadra.
The local tehsildar had ordered eviction of the guest house which was illegally constructed after encroaching upon government land. Though the concerned revenue inspector had submitted a report mentioning that the guest house was evicted on March 26, 2018, he requested the tehsildar to close the case while the guest house was functioning illegally till date.
As the guest house has now been demolished, several questions still remain answered as whether Odisha police has been successful in collecting necessary evidence from the crime spot. Many also suspect whether there is any ulterior motive behind the demolition of the guest house when mystery still prevails over the death of Smitarani.
“The house was built on government land and it was demolished. But we are yet to get justice as we do not know the reason behind the murder,” said Bharati Biswal, mother-in-law of the deceased Smitarani.