2016 Double Murder: Arrested Odisha Ex-MLA’s Kin Allege Police High-Handedness, Threaten Suicide

Raigarh: The Raigarh police on Saturday issued summons to two relatives of Kalpana Das, who along with her daughter was found murdered in a forest in Chhattisgarh in 2016.

Her brother Barun Das of Rajapur in Brajarajnagar and sister-in-law of Bagharachaka in Jharsuguda district have been summoned to the police station for interrogation.

Police had earlier arrested former Brajarajnagar MLA Anup Sai and his driver Bardhan Toppo in connection with the murder.

Briefing the media, Raigarh SP Santosh Kumar Singh said the police had produced Sai and his driver in the court after completion of their remand period.

The SDJM Court had earlier allowed three-day remand of Sai and a day remand of Toppo to police.

Sai, who had earlier confessed to have murdered the woman with whom he was in a live-in relationship, is reportedly not cooperating with the police in the investigation. “To elicit more information, we will appeal to the court to take the duo on a fresh remand,” he added.

The police have also got some clues about the complicity of another accused in the double murder and hunt is on to nab him.

Meanwhile, Sai’s wife Sushama, son Shuvam and his elder brother Pramod arrived at the office of the Jharsuguda Collector in the afternoon.

Talking to the media, Sushama said her family has been framed in this incident. “The Raigarh Police have threatened to pick up my son anytime. We have come here to request the District Collector to provide us with adequate security,” she added.

Stating that his family had lost its image in Brajarajnagar, Pramod said the repressive measure of the Raigarh police should stop. “Let the police investigate the incident. We will not interfere. But they should stop sending notices to our family at regular intervals,” he added.

Asked whether there is politics behind the incident, he said some opposition leaders might be behind the arrest of his younger brother. The incident had taken place four years ago, why did the police arrest his brother now? Pramod pointed out.

“Our lives are in danger. We will stage a dharna here until we are provided with adequate security. If the district administration fails to provide security, we will commit suicide en masse,” he added.