Daijiworld Media Network – Sambalpur
Sambalpur, Dec 7: The mysterious death of a 15-year-old girl in Sambalpur has taken a serious turn after her maternal grandmother lodged a fresh FIR alleging that the teenager was murdered to usurp family property.
The victim, Sai Sraddha Mishra, a Class IX student, was found in a drain at Shanti Nagar under Ainthapali police limits early Thursday. Locals spotted her and rushed her to hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead. Police initially registered the case as an accident, suspecting she lost control of her scooter while returning home at night. Her body was sent for postmortem.
However, on Friday, Sai’s maternal grandmother Kamala Nanda filed a fresh complaint at Angul police station, alleging that the “accident” was staged. She named the girl’s paternal aunt Snigdha Mishra, grandfather Ashok Mishra, and grandmother Surekha Mishra, accusing them of conspiring to eliminate Sai for property.
The family told police they filed the complaint in Angul — where Sai’s maternal grandparents reside — as they feared for their safety if they approached authorities in Sambalpur.
According to the FIR, Sai endured physical and mental harassment after losing both her parents — her father in a road accident in 2014 and her mother in 2017. The complainant claimed Sai was the sole heir to her father’s share of the property, which she would have inherited upon turning 18.
Ainthapali IIC P.K. Swain said a Zero FIR had been registered in Angul, but his station was yet to receive the copy.
“It is too early to conclude whether this is murder. The nature of death can only be confirmed after the postmortem report. Further investigation is underway,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sai’s aunt Snigdha Mishra dismissed the allegations, saying the family was shattered by the teenager’s sudden demise.
“She was the centre of our world. With no other children in the house, we raised her with love. Anyone who sees her photos will know how well she was cared for,” she said, adding that the family trusts police to bring out the truth.