Jharsuguda: The body of RTI activist Ravi Soni, who had been missing since Wednesday evening, has been recovered from Ib river in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district.
Soni’s family lodged a missing person complaint at Brajrajnagar police station after he didn’t return on Wednesday night.
Soni’s vehicle was later found near the cremation ground along Ib River, but he was nowhere around. Police launched a search operation along with Fire Services personnel and an ODRAF team.
At around 10.30 am on Friday, Soni’s body was spotted floating in the river.
Once the body was recovered, a forensic team reached the spot for investigation.
Soni’s wife has alleged foul play, saying that her husband was murdered and then the body was thrown into the river. She claimed that injury marks were visible on her husband’s face, nose, hands, head, back, abdomen and thigh, suggesting that he had been assaulted.
Police are looking at all angles, to determine whether Soni drowned accidentally or was killed and his body disposed of in the river.
Investigators are examining his call details and investigating the circumstances surrounding his last known whereabouts. The last-seen theory is also being verified as part of the investigation.
The exact cause of death is expected to be clear after the post-mortem report is available and further forensic investigation.