Whiff Of Jharkhand Politics As Police Begin Probe Into Engineering Student Death In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: While police are investigating the death of a 19-year-old engineering student from Ranchi in Bhubaneswar, the incident seems to have sparked a political storm in neighbouring Jharkhand, which is on the brink of elections.

On September 14, body of Abhishek Ravi was found near his hostel exactly three days after he joined as an inmate. It was initially suspected to be a suicide with college authorities saying that he fell off the hostel staircase. However, following allegations of murder by his family members, police has registered a case and is probing into it.

College authorities have ruled out the possibility of foul play, dubbing the ragging allegation as false and baseless since Abhishek joined the hostel only on September 10. As all the residents in the hostel are first-year students, it is highly unlikely, given the student’s isolation during his short time at the college, they pointed out. The deceased might have been under some kind of mental pressure also because of other reasons.

What has turned the case more complicated are demands by Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Odisha Governor Raghubar Das. While Soren has urged his Odisha counterpart Mohan Charan Majhi to order a high-level inquiry into the incident, the Governor has asked the state government to ensure an impartial probe into the death. This is being seen as a battle of political one-upmanship amid reports that Raghubar Das, who took over as the 26th Governor of Odisha in November 2023, is keen to return to electoral politics with Jharkhand going to polls later this year.

Also Read: Jharkhand Student’s Death In Bhubaneswar: Odisha Guv Requests State Govt For Impartial Probe

Also Read: Is Odisha Governor Raghubar Das Keen To Return To Jharkhand Politics?