A domestic worker working at the official residence of Odisha Minister Krushna Chandra Patra in Bhubaneswar died on Thursday following an alleged electrocution, according to police reports.
The deceased, identified as 46-year-old Shankarshan Nag, was a native of the Belpahar area in Balangir district.
According to police, Shankarshan had been working as domestic help at the minister’s residence for several months and was residing within Patra’s official quarters.
On Thursday, the minister’s personal staff found Shankarshan lying unconscious on the floor of the room. Although he was immediately rushed to Capital Hospital, doctors declared him dead on arrival, police said.
After receiving the information, police arrived at the scene and recovered the body and subsequently sent it for a post-mortem examination.
“From prima facie, it was found that the man died due to accidental electrocution. We have registered an unnatural death case, and further investigation is in progress,” said Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena.
Raising questions over the death of the private staff of the minister, the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) demanded a proper investigation into his death.
During a media briefing at the party office, BJD vice-president Sanjay Das Burma said an aide of a cabinet minister of the state died suddenly, and the police have handed over the body to his family after registering an unnatural death case.
He further criticised the government’s handling of the situation, calling the release of the body to the family a “hasty move” that raises many questions.
The BJD leader sought clarification from Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, who oversees the Home department.
Das Burma further alleged that media representatives were blocked from speaking with the deceased’s family members, suggesting an attempt by the government to conceal information.
Consequently, the BJD is demanding that the state government conduct a proper investigation to clarify the exact cause of death. As of late Friday evening, Minister Patra has not stated the incident.
“It shows that the government is trying to hide something. Therefore, the state government should conduct a proper investigation into the case and clarify the cause of death,” Das Burma demanded.
Minister Patra has not made a statement on the incident till Friday late evening.
