DEOGAON/SAMBALPUR: In a grotesque incident, senior Orissa cadre IAS officer Jagadananda Panda, currently posted as Protector General of Emigrants, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, shot dead four members of his family before killing himself on Thursday night at his parental home in Deogaon village under Bargarh Sadar police limits.
Although he also shot his only son, the latter managed to survive and is battling for his life at the ICU of VSS Medical College, Burla.
The police have recovered a licensed .32 pistol that belonged to Panda, with which he had opened fire, besides some ammunition.
Hand-written notes from his briefcase, which are being considered suicide notes, were also seized from the spot.
In the note, Panda claimed that he was innocent, referring to a recent search by the CBI, and mentioned a list of his properties and names of relatives to whom he bequeathed the assets.