Puri: A 17-year-old girl died under mysterious circumstances in Gop area of Odisha’s Puri district with her elder sister alleging that she was killed by her father and stepmother. The deceased was identified as Monali Moharana (17).
According to sources, Monali’s father Durgacharan married Mamata Ojha in 2020 after his first wife died in 2018. After their marriage, Monali was allegedly tortured by her father, stepmother, and maternal uncle Jeevan Ojha.
Monali’s elder sister Ranjita, who lives in Kolkata, has alleged that on January 8 her sister was killed by the trio and her body burnt at the cremation ground to destroy the evidence. The accused also washed and cleaned the area.
After being informed about Monali’s death, Ranjita reached the village and asked her father about her sister’s body and went to the cremation ground to find it clean.
Ranjita immediately filed a complaint at Gop police station, alleging that Durgacharan, Mamata, and Jeevan were involved in Monali’s murder. “After my mother left, Monali was the only person I had in my life,” Ranjita told media.
Meanwhile, police personnel visited the spot along with a scientific team and collected some ashes as well as pieces of bones to initiate a probe. Gop police also detained Durgacharan to interrogate him.
“We have initiated an investigation into the matter. The exact cause behind Monali’s death will be ascertained soon,” Nimapada Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Debasish Mishra said.
