Mystery Shrouds Rourkela Assistant Collector Sushmita Minz’s Death In Pond

Rourkela: Police have identified the woman, whose body was found in the pond of a newly constructed sensory park here on Tuesday, as Rourkela Assistant Collector Sushmita Minz (35).

A native of Ramabahal area in nearby Rajgangpur of Odisha’s Sundargarh district, Minz was posted at the office of Rourkela additional district magistrate (ADM).

According to sources, Minz went missing on September 15, following which her brother sought the help of Uditnagar police on September 17. Hours later, she was traced to a hotel. However, she refused to go with her mother and brother.

Around 3.15 pm on Tuesday, a security guard of the park spotted the body floating in the pond and informed the Plantsite police. Fire Services personnel reached the spot and fished out the body from the pond. Her sandals and other belongings kept inside a plastic bag, were found on the steps of the water body.

Police have attributed her death to drowning. “The woman officer’s body was handed over to her family members after autopsy. An unnatural death case has been registered and further investigation is underway,” said Plant Site IIC JR Pati.

Cops are also examining the CCTV footage to ascertain the circumstances under which Minz reached the park.

Sources said that the assistant collector had a disturbed family life and she was in the process of getting divorced. She used to attend office at Rourkela from Rajgangpur and it appeared she also did not share good terms with her family members.

Her family, however, alleged that she was stress because of work pressure in office. “We suspect she was mentally tortured at work workplace which could have prompted her to take the extreme step,” said Susmita’s mother Selevstin Minj.