Bhubaneswar: Taking a serious view Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Wildlife, Susanta Nada on Friday ordered an investigation into the snakebite death case in which a man allegedly used a cobra to kill his wife and two-year-old daughter in Kabisuryanagar of Ganjam district.
Shri Nanda, an sensitive IFS Officer has directed the DFO to submit his investigation report on how the cobra was available with the accused and whether the reptile was killed thereafter.
District Police investigation revealed that K Ganesh, a migrant worker, of Adheibara village under the Kabisuryanagar police station allegedly killed his wife K Basanti Patra and baby daughter suspecting that his wife had an extramarital affair.
The culprit then allegedly hatched a plan to eliminate his wife and daughter.
Shri Ganesh reportedly bought the cobra (Kolathia Naga) from a snake charmer on 7 October and released it into the room where his wife and daughter were sleeping on the same night.
The victims were bitten by the snake. Later, they were rushed to the Hinjlicut Government Hospital, where they were declared brought dead.
While police initially registered a snakebite death case, later it turned out to be a murder case after the investigation revealed that it was Ganesh who used the snake to kill his wife and daughter. Ganesh was arrested on Thursday.
However, as a cobra was involved in the murder, the Department of Forest has taken cognizance of the case and ordered an inquiry.
Chief wildlife Warden Shri PCCF Nanda said, “Officials concerned have been directed to investigate the source of the snake; who all are involved in the supply of this snake and whether the snake is alive or dead. Everybody involved in the snake business will be prosecuted under law.”
Shri Nanda has taken the matter seriously after it came to fore and continuously keeping a watch on the development, said a senior official.
