Bhubaneswar: Paralakhemundi police on Wednesday arrested cook Manmath Kumbha in connection with the death of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, nearly five years after the forest officer suffered severe burn injuries at his official residence.
Kumbha was arrested from his native village in the early hours of Wednesday while a police team was executing a non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued against him by the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court in Paralakhemundi.
Acting on a tip-off, police reached Kumbha’s village with a team and apprehended him.
After his arrest, Kumbha was taken for a medical examination and was to be produced before the SDJM court in Paralakhemundi for further legal action.
The NBW was issued against Kumbha in connection with a case registered under Sections 302 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Mohapatra suffered severe burn injuries at his official residence in Paralakhemundi in July 2021. He was initially treated locally before being shifted to Cuttack for advanced treatment. He later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.
Further investigation is underway.
