Bhubaneswar: Jhuna Bhoi, one of the accused persons in the murder of cameraman Manas Swain, has made a shocking revelation during her interrogation by the Odisha Crime Branch that the deceased was beaten to death with bamboo sticks and a baton.
Sources at the Crime Branch said that Jhuna Bhoi, who is the associate of Sarmishta Rout, the prime accused of the case, is cooperating with the investigation.
During her interrogation, Bhoi said the investigating team that Manas Swain was beaten to death with 3 bamboo sticks and a baton at Bhubaneswar-based Dayal Ashram, run by Sarmishta Rout.
Meanwhile, the Crime Branch, based on the basis of leads shared by the ashram caretaker, is said to have seized all the concerned four sticks, which the caretaker had thrown through the window of the Dayal Ashram following Sarmistha’s instructions and sent for examination. Jhuna Bhoi also reportedly identified these weapons.
On the other hand, wife of Manas has identified his half-burnt chappal and half-burnt earphone, which were recovered by the police from Chandikhol. A five-member team visited the deceased’s house at Godipokhari village under Ranapur police limits of Nayagarh district yesterday and interacted with his family members to get some lead in the case.
However, Crime Branch is yet to trace the controversial memory card, which is why the cameraman was killed.
The Crime Branch has reportedly taken both Sarmishta Rout and her associate Jhuna Bhoi on a 3-day remand period for further interrogation. This is their second phase of remand.
Ms Kalinga