Lady PEO Death In Odisha: Sarpanch's Husband Arrested

Jajpur: As politics intensified over the death of Smitarani Biswal, the lady village level worker (VLW) & in-charge panchayat executive officer (PEO) of Haridaspur in Jajpur district, police today arrested husband of the local sarpanch for his involvement in the incident.

Briefing media persons on the development, Jajpur SP Charan Singh Meena informed, "The prima facie it appears that Haridaspur sarpanch's husband Rupesh Bhadra was in a relationship with the lady PEO for quite some time and they were in contact with each other. Smitarani wanted that Rupesh should only talk to her and not with any other women even his own wife due to which both had developed some differences. On the fateful day, both got into arguments following which Smitarani committed suicide."

The SP said that since she was found dead in Rupesh’ private guest house and due to his complicity in the case, he has been arrested after interrogation. He also said that the post mortem report states that there was no injury on Smitarani's body and she died of asphyxiation.

On reports of five others who were reportedly present at the spot when the lady PEO was found dead, the SP clarified that investigation is underway and if anyone else is found involved in the incident, necessary steps will be taken.

Father of deceased, Smitarani Biswal said, "My daughter is headstrong and cannot commit suicide; if it is being said that five persons were present on the spot, why no one stopped her and why only one person was arrested."

The Opposition political parties in the State meanwhile have cornered the ruling-BJD over the incident. The BJP has alleged that Rupesh who has links with ruling-BJD’s top leaders is directly involved in the death of the lady official.