Parala suicides: Dead manager's kin move Odisha human rights commission

BHUBANESWAR: Family members of the former manager of Gajapati palace, Ananga Manjari Patra, who commited suicide along with three of her siblings in August, approached the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) here on Tuesday expressing displeasure with the sluggish pace of the probe being conducted by the crime branch.
The family members alleged the crime branch of going soft on some influential politicians, including Paralakhemundi Congress MLA K Surya Rao who were among those named in the FIR, for allegedly forcing the four to end their lives.
"We are not happy with the way the crime branch probe is heading. Though the police have already registered cases against Rao and others, including some local BJD and BJP leaders, the crime branch, which took over the investigation from the police, is yet to turn the heat on them. We urged the human rights commission to give us justice," Amulya Patra, Ananga's brother, said.
The bodies of Ananga, her sister Bijaylaxmi and brothers Sanjay (personal assistant of Gajapati king Gopinath Narayan Deo) and Santosh were found from their house, about one kilometre from the royal palace, at Paralakhemundi on August 21. Police suspect they committed suicide two days before.
"Some local media persons, Rao and other politicians had ganged up and accused Ananga and Sanjay of having grabbed the palace property. They also accused my siblings of illegally confining the ageing emperor inside the palace and indulging in financial mismanagement. Such baseless allegations tarnished my siblings' reputation in the public life, forcing them to commit suicides," Amulya added.
Amulya's sister Pushpalata said the police had seized three suicide notes from the room. "The notes contained the name of Rao among others, who was held responsible for their suicides. The crime branch simply questioned a few accused and sat quiet," Pushpalata said.
Crime branch officers denied the probe has slowed down. "Rao got interim relief from the Orissa High Court after he applied for anticipatory bail. So far we have interrogated several people, including former Gajapati district president of the BJD, Basant Das," said a crime branch officer.