Honour Killing? Viral Audio Clip & Letter Deepen Mystery Around Death Of Class X Student In Odisha’s Mahanga

Bhubaneswar: After an audio clip on alleged Rs 70,000 deal, a purported suicide note has now gone viral hinting at honour killing in the mysterious death of a Class X student of a government high school in Mahanga block of Odisha’s Cuttack district.

In the suicide note, the girl purportedly wrote that her father had poisoned her. She was reportedly in a relationship and the letter appears to have been addressed to her lover, where she confirms having consumed ‘something’. “If I survive then it would be because of you and if I die, do come to see me. Good Bye My Love, My Life.”

The deceased, a native of Sukuapada village under Gokan gram panchayat, was a student of Gokan High School. It was then reported that the schoolgirl allegedly had an affair with a teacher who stayed in her house on rent. When her parents learnt about it, they reportedly asked the teacher to leave. The girl also stopped attending classes and was found dead under suspicious circumstances on June 18.

But what has caused serious concern is that she was allegedly cremated in a haste without postmortem though it was a case of unnatural death.

Former block chairman of Mahanga Sarat Nayak came under the scanner after an audio recording of his purported telephonic conversation with mother of the school teacher went viral, a couple of days ago. Nayak, who is secretary of the school, reportedly ensured that the case was covered up. In the audio clip, he is heard claiming that he ‘managed’ the hush up and demanding Rs 70,000 from the teacher’s mother for bribe to be paid to the police and local journalists.

He also asserted that ashes have been consigned into a river. Had the postmortem been conducted, it could have led to a lot of problem as the the report might have revealed she was pregnant, Nayak said, adding that he was more concerned about the reputation of his institute.

A BJP delegation led by state general secretary Lekhasri Samantsinghar met DGP SK Bansal on Tuesday and sought stringent action against the culprits while demanding that the ‘suppressed’ facts regarding the death of the girl be revealed.  Mentioning about Nayak’s alleged involvement and the viral audio, the saffron party said that he was a close aide of former minister Pratap Jena. He is also suspected to have a role in the murder of the witness in the Mahanga quadruple murder case, they said.

The delegation further alleged that the Mahanga MLA has been putting pressure to suppress the minor girl’s case.

Meanwhile, social activist Rutuparna Mohanty condemned the incident and said she suspected it was a case of ‘honour killing’.

Rubbishing these allegations, father of the deceased girl on Wednesday told the media that she was suffering from fits and died due to health issues. However, they neither took her to a hospital nor lodged a complaint with police. He threatened to commit suicide if this smear campaign continue. He also requested police to investigate the case.