Rourkela Assistant Collector Sushmita Minz’s Husband Quizzed Over Her ‘Mysterious’ Death

Rourkela: Even as tribals in Odisha’s Sundargarh threatened to intensify their agitation, seeking justice for Rourkela assistant collector Sushmita Minz and ASI Alisa Narmi Lugun, Sushmita’s husband Sushil Topno was questioned for over two hours at the office of Rourkela SP on Friday.

According to sources, Sushil, a banker posted in neighbouring Chhattisgarh, had tied the knot with the 35-year-old ORS officer a few months ago but they were in the process of getting a divorce. There was hearing in their divorce case on September 16. She was, however, found dead in a pond of newly-constructed Sensory Park here on September 19 evening. The autopsy report has attributed her death to drowning and ruled out possibility of homicide.

Deputy SP (DSP) of Investigative Unit on Crime Against Women (IUCAW) Banita Majhi is currently investigating the case. Assisted by forensic experts and fire services personnel, the DSP had earlier searched for clues in the pond in the park. CCTV footage of the hotel, where Sushmita stayed, have been seized for investigation. Majhi had also questioned a couple of government officials in connection with the death.

Alleging involvement of government officials in her death, her family as well as tribal outfits in the districts have, however, been demanding a CBI probe into her death.

Her bother Sandip had earlier raised finger of suspicion at Sundargarh Collector, Rourkela ADM, Gurundia BDO, Gurundia child development project officer (CDPO) and Lugun. “They knew where my sister was and whom she had met between September 16 and September 17 evening, when she checked into a hotel. Why was she kept in a hotel instead of the circuit house when she was there attend an official meeting?” he questioned.

Sandip had earlier lodged a complaint with Plant Site police alleging that her sister was murdered and mental torture at workplace pushed her into depression. He suspected that his sister was in the knowledge of some unwanted secrets of the collector and ADM and hence, during her difficult time of mental illness and depression, they did not help her and kept her away from the family.

A native of Rambahal area of Rajgangpur in Sundargarh district, Sushmita was appointed as the assistant collector of Rourkela around 18 months ago and was looking after issues related to land acquisition.

On Thursday, Odisha Mahila Morcha of BJP organised a dawn-to-dusk shutdown to protest against the mysterious deaths of two women tribal government employees within a span of 12 days. Reiterating allegations of murder in both cases, the saffron party also called for a CBI probe.

Hundreds of tribal women gheraoed Sundargarh Collector’s office from this morning, seeking answers into the allegations, besides probe by the central agency.