Cuttack: Mystery continues to shroud the death of 41-year-old man, who was allegedly burnt alive at a crematorium in Choudwar on Friday night.
The deceased has been identified as Nischal Ranjan Mohapatra of Noda Dimiri in Govindpur. He was a bus conductor by profession.
According to sources, some passersby, who were returning from Bali Jatra, found him engulfed by fire near Birata Gadi at midnight and informed police. He was admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) here with 90% burns and succumbed the following morning.
His family told the media that he left home on a two-wheeler with a friend on Friday and suspect it to be a case of pre-planned murder. However, Nischal, in his dying statement during treatment at SCBMCH, reportedly told police that he had caught fire accidentally. “We are also looking into the case from different angles to ascertain as to how the man reached the spot and how he caught fire,” Choudwar IIC Bishwa Ranjan Sahu said.
They also also sought cooperation from Govindpur police in identifying the person who had come to pick the deceased from his house on Friday, he added.
