Bhubaneswar, 3 December (H.S.): A renewed call for reopening the probe into the death of Paralakhemundi Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Soumyaranjan Mohapatra resonated in the Odisha Assembly on Wednesday during Zero Hour.

Raising the issue in the House, Simulia MLA Padma Lochan Panda urged the state government to initiate a fresh investigation, alleging that key angles were ignored during the earlier probe. Panda claimed that the then Forest and Environment Minister was allegedly connected to the case, yet neither the minister nor his associates were questioned or arrested by the previous government. He alleged that the investigation had been compromised, preventing the truth from coming out.

“The family of Soumyaranjan is still waiting for justice,” Panda said, demanding a fair, transparent, and time-bound reinvestigation into what he described as an alleged murder.

The death of ACF Soumyaranjan Mahapatra had sparked widespread public outrage when it occurred, with his family and several organisations alleging foul play.

ACF Soumyaranjan was found half-burnt under mysterious circumstances at his official residence in Paralakhemundi on July 12, 2021. He was critically injured when reportedly rescued by his wife and later shifted to Cuttack, where he succumbed to his injuries.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda