BHAWANIPATNA: THE Crime Branch (CB) team probing into the burning of Tapaswini Rana, a Class X student of Kalahandi district has revealed some startling facts.
During interrogation of Tapaswini’s grandparents Belmati and Baladh at Madhupur village in Lanjigarh block under Narla police limits on Sunday, the CB team learnt that the act was a fallout of enmity between Tapaswini’s father Jagannath and the accused families.
Till now six persons, including the accused Sana Sahu alias Jugal and Bulu Das and their parents, have been arrested. Jugal, a juvenile, was produced before Juvenile Justice Board and sent to Correctional Home at Berhampur.
Tapaswini’s grandparents stated that Jugal suspected that Jagannath had approached police against the illegal country liquor unit of his family. Both families had a long-standing dispute over the matter. Similarly, Bulu Das and his family were not in good terms with Rana over installation of a tube-well. Nursing a grudge against Rana family, Jugal and Bulu set Tapaswini on fire.
Tapaswini, who was set on fire on January 11, is struggling for survival with 95 per cent burn injuries at Ispat General Hospital (IGH) in Rourkela. The four-member CB team again visited her native village Madhupur on Monday.
The CB team, which is camping here from January 14, went to Madhupur Ashram School and interacted with her classmates and villagers who had helped Rana’s parents shift her to Kalahandi District Headquarters Hospital. They also visited her home in search of evidence. The CB has moved court seeking remand of the prime accused.
On Sunday, the CB had recorded the statement of Tapaswini at IGH in camera in presence of Magistrate Nibharani Bhattacharya before visiting her house. The team reached Madhupur on Sunday morning and collected samples of various materials from the spot where Tapaswini was set on fire. The team also visited the house of the accused Bulu Das but it was found locked. However, Bulu’s grandmother was grilled about the incident. Later, the team left for Rourkela where they recorded the statement of Tapaswini.