Berhampur Co-Op Society Secy Death: Wife Rejects Accident Claims, Cries Murder

Berhampur: Four days after half-burnt body of Secretary of Cooperative Society K Jagannath Patro was recovered, his wife has lodged a complaint alleging that it was a pre-meditated murder.

The official was charred to death when flames engulfed the building of Seva Samabaya Samiti at Kukudakhandi, on the outskirts of Berhampur city, on January 16.

Initial reports had suggested that the victim died due to electrocution.

In her complaint, she questioned as to how a person was charred to death in the mishap when all files in the office were intact.

“His body was completely charred. The intensity of electric shock inside an office is never so much. We think he has been murdered,” said a relative.

Acting on the complaint, Sadar Police has registered a case under IPC Section 302 and initiated an investigation into her allegations.

“We are yet to receive the postmortem report. Prima facie investigation suggested that Patro died due to electric short circuit. The exact cause of the death can only be ascertained once we receive the report,” said Berhampur ASP Prabhat Routray.