PURI: A 28-year-old woman drowned in the swimming pool of Naren Palace Hotel under Beach police station on Monday afternoon, triggering serious allegations of murder from her family members.
The deceased has been identified as Sumitra Mahapatra alias Mama, a resident of Gudiasahi under Town Police Station.
According to preliminary information, Sumitra had gone to the hotel on Monday morning along with Rajkumar Sahu (33) and Sabita Behera. The trio had booked a room. In the afternoon, all three went to the hotel’s swimming pool to take a dip. While swimming, Sumitra reportedly moved towards the deeper section of the pool and drowned.
Rajkumar and Sabita raised an alarm. Hotel security personnel and others immediately pulled her out of the water and rushed her to the District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
The body has been seized and kept in the mortuary for post-mortem.
Meanwhile, Sumitra’s family has strongly alleged murder. They claim that Sumitra, who worked as a dancer, was called to the hotel for a bachelor party. The family also alleged that another young woman had accompanied her to the hotel. They have demanded a thorough investigation into the incident.
Police are treating the case seriously and are investigating from all angles — whether it was a case of accidental drowning or if there is any other criminal angle involved. The two persons who were with the deceased are being questioned.
Further investigation is underway.
