Bhubaneswar: In a further development in the case relating to the death of Deba Narayan Panda, personal assistant (PA) of the Malkangiri district collector, his wife Banaja Panda on Monday moved the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) demanding the immediate transfer of four senior police officials from the district.
In a petition, Panda urged the Commission to direct the state government to immediately transfer the Malkangiri SP, SDPO, District Intelligence Bureau (DIB) Inspector and the IIC of Malkangiri. As these offices are trying to destroy evidence to protect the accused, the continuation of their service in the district will hamper the investigation into the death of her husband, she maintained.
She also demanded exemplary action against these four police officers.
Earlier in the day, the state government transferred the Malkangiri Collector Manish Agarwal and posted him as Deputy Secretary, Planning & Convergence, and appointed 2014 batch IAS officer Yeddula Vijay, at present Deputy Secretary, Planning & Convergence, as the new collector of Malkangiri.
Notably, Banaja had lodged a police complaint after her husband went missing on December 27 last year.
Police launched a search operation and found Panda’s bike and helmet near Satiguda dam the following day. His body was later found floating in the waterbody.
Also Read: Odisha Govt Shunts Malkangiri Collector Booked For Murder
