Parala suicide mystery yet to be unravelled

Though two years have passed since the sensational suicide of four members of a family, who were caretakers of the Parala King Gopinath Gajapati on August 21, 2016, the investigation into the heartrending event has not reached any conclusive stage and report not made public.

Consequently, the culprits behind the plot hatched to defame the family and subject them to mental harassment are still not brought to the book. It is still also not known if the Ananga Manjuri Patra and her family members were trying to grab the property of the palace and neglecting the ailing king.

Sanjay Patra, Santosh Patra, Bijaylakhsmi Patra and palace manager Ananga Manjuri Patra after writing a suicide note had attempted suicide. Santosh in critical condition was admitted in hospital in Brahmapur but subsequently had died. They had accused a political leader and a news channel of defaming them that prompted them to take the extreme step.

Notably, on August 14, 2016 there was a big protest by the local residents of Paralakhemkundi in front of the palace after the rumours that Maharaja Gopinath Gajapati was imprisoned by late manager Ananga Manjuri Patra allegedly to grab his property.

Soon, hundreds of people from different walks of life, including politicians from different parties, staged in the protest and blocked the road for hours demanding justice and proper treatment for the Parala Maharaja from the district administration.

Later, officials from the district administration along with police and reputed person from the town reached the palace and found Mahraja Gopinath Gajapati in his chamber in severely ill condition. He needed immediate health intervention.

A committee was formed for the treatment of the Parala Maharaja and it was decided to take the Maharaja to Apollo Hospital, Chennai. Three committee members and two brothers of Parala Maharaja manager Ananga Manjuri, such as Santosh and Sanjay, had accompanied the king to Chennai with a cash of Rs 4. They admitted the Parala Maharaj in the Apollo Hospital on August 16, 2016.

However, a rumour spread that Santosh and Sanjay had left Chennai by taking away Rs 2 lakh. After the news reached Paralakhemundi, the residents protested severely and the Patra family was in the eye of a storm. The family was subjected to condemnation and harassment. Later, however, Sanjay and Santosh clarified that they had decided to get relieved from the palace charge and had handed over the Rs 2 lakh, the palace keys and all relevant documents along resignation letters to Yuva Rani Kalyani Devi.

In the meanwhile, as the incident was creating a hue and cry, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik intervened in the matter and announced that the State Government would bear all expenses for the treatment of the Parala king. The then Health Minister from Odisha had reached Apollo and met the ailing Parala Maharaja.

However, on August 21, after the four members of the Patra family had committed suicide, it was a breaking news and almost all the news channels were abuzz with airing the incident. Soon, the State Government ordered a Crime Branch inquiry and a scientific team reached the sport and started an investigation.

Amulya Patra, brother of  Ananga Manjuri filed a case against one particular news channel which tried to give the deceased the colour of culprits, triggering mob protest. He said that not being able to control the rumours and lies spread by the particular news channel, his two brothers and two sisters ended life.

The Crime Branch, meanwhile, has informed that three people died due to consuming poison and one for being strangulated.  The name mentioned in the suicide note was MLA K Surya Rao and an Odia news channel. The Crime Branch said the investigation was on. The Crime Branch had grilled more than 100 people within three months after the event.

After not getting any justice due to the delay in investigation, the family members of the deceased have moved the Chief Minister Grievance Cell, the Odisha Human Rights Commission, the Director General of Police Office and various related offices but in vain.