Bhubaneswar: In a major breakthrough, the Odisha Crime Branch, which is currently probing the sensational murder case of Cameraman Manas Swain, is said to have got a major lead in the case as the prime accused of the case Sarmistha Rout confessed to have kidnapped and killed the lensman.
According to sources, during her marathon interrogation by the officials of the Crime Branch, Sarmistha Rout confessed that she kidnapped and killed the cameraman.
Sarmistha Rout kidnapped Manas Swain from Palaspur of Chandbali on March 7 with the help of Ranjan Nayak, Jhuna Bhoi, Bhagyadhar Nayak and Nilu. They brought him to Dayal Ashram in Bhubaneswar and assaulted him brutally until his death. Later, they disposed the body in Ranpur Badhipatana.
Earlier today, Sarmistha recreates crime scenes at different places including Ranpur Badhipatana, where Manas Swain’s body was buried.
Earlier on Thursday during the interrogation, the accused Ranjan confessed to having kidnapped Manas from Palaspur under Chandbali police limits in Bhadrak along with mastermind Sarmistha Rout, Jhuna Bhoi, Bhagyadhar Nayak in Sarmistha’s car and brought him to Dayal Ashram under Airfield Police Station in Bhubaneswar. They assaulted him brutally at the Ashram.
Niranjan Sethi had also assaulted the deceased in the Ashram. After his death, they had shifted the dead body in the same car and disposed of the dead body under Ranpur police limits in Nayagarh.
After disposal of the dead body, they proceeded to a place located on the side of Daitari –Paradeep express High way about two kilometers from Chandikhole where they burnt the belongings like One mobile earphone, One pair of footwear of Manas, and a jute sack in which they had wrapped the dead body and saree following which they had thrown the weapons used for digging and burring the dead body in the nearby bush.
Based on the statement of Ranjan, IO, official witnesses on requisition and scientific team proceeded to the place led by him this morning. From the spot One half-burnt mobile earphone, One pair of half-burnt footwear of Manas Swain, One Spade, One Gainti, One half-burnt jute sack, and one half-burnt saree have been seized.
Ms Kalinga