Balangir: While all eyes are now on Bidyabharati Panda in connection with the mysterious death of her husband and ACF Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, details of her Balangir connection have come to the fore.
Talking to the media on Thursday, the head of Livestock Inspectors’ Training Centre Hemant Kumar Pradhan said, Bidyabharati had taken admission on October 16, 2019 and was staying in Room no-1 of ladies hostel. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she had left the institute on March 18, 2020 and her marriage was solemnised with Soumya Ranjan on December 1, 2020.
“After the suspension of class on March 18 last year, we were conducting online classes since then. But, due to the offline mid-term examination scheduled from April 5 to 13, we had called the students to come to the institute to write the examination. Following the notice, Bidya had arrived at the institute on April 3 this year and stayed in the ladies’ hostel till April 12. On April 13, her parents took her with them after obtaining my permission,” Pradhan said.
During the lockdown period, two students Manoj Nayak and Bidyabharati Panda of Mayurbhanj district got married in May and December respectively, he added.
“As these two got married and had not given treat to their friends, they had sought permission from me to arrange a bachelor party. Again, due to COVID-19 restrictions, I told them to arrange the party on the premises of the institute and prepare food in our mess. Later, Manoj had sponsored the party on April 4 (Sunday) and Bidyabharati sponsored the party next Sunday (April 11) and the students had taken food to their respective hostel rooms. While Manoj had spent around Rs 7,000, Bidyabharati had spent around Rs 13,000,” Pradhan added.
He said Bidyabharati was staying in the ladies hostel with two married students Lucy Sahu of Mayurbhanj district and Sarita Yadav of Bhawanipatna.
Asked whether the police have inquired about the details of Bidyabharati in connection with the death of her husband, Pradhan said Balangir Town Police had come to the institute for investigation and told him to speak to the SP and Additional SP of Gajapati district. “I have spoken to them and provided all details,” he informed.
He further said Bidyabharati had arrived at the institute between 12 pm and 1 pm on April 3 in a car. “As Bidya had come alone with the driver, I asked her why did she not come with her husband or family members, to which she said due to the busy work schedule of her husband and family members, she had come in her personal car and the personal driver,” he said.
