The Crime Branch will now probe the death case of Paralakhemundi Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF), Soumya Ranjan. Crime Branch ADG Sanjeev Panda informed on Saturday that the agency has taken over the probe into the case.
According to Sanjeev Panda, the crime branch has undertaken investigation following orders of the DGP. The ADG said that the Crime Branch has constituted a three member team to probe the case. The three-member team is being headed by a DSP. Earlier, the Crime Branch was already involved in the probe and was helping the Gajapati Police in the same.
On July 11, 2021, ACF Soumya Ranjan was rushed to hospital with critical burn injuries. The victim was found with around 90 per cent burn injuries at his official quarters at Paralakhemundi. On July 13, Soumya Ranjan succumbed to the injuries at a private hospital in Cuttack.
According to the post-mortem report, the victim died of burn injuries. However, the family members of the deceased have alleged foul play. Alleging murder, the family members of Soumya Ranjan filed an online complaint against the victim’s widow, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangram Behera and the victim’s cook.