Hotel Owner Found Dead with Head Injuries in Balasore

Bhubaneswar: A hotel owner was found dead with severe head injuries under mysterious circumstances in Simulia area of Odisha’s Balasore district on Monday morning.

The deceased has been identified as Ganjendra Panda (59), owner of Jay Maa Durga Hotel under Simulia police limits.

According to reports, Panda was found lying inside his hotel room located along National Highway-16 near Jamujhadi. The hotel had reportedly closed after serving its last customers on Sunday night, following which Panda went to sleep in his room.

On Monday morning, the hotel’s cook, identified as Ramesh, attempted to wake him up but received no response. Local residents were subsequently informed, and Simulia police reached the spot to begin an investigation. The deceased’s brother, Surendra Prasad Panda, has lodged a complaint in connection with the incident.

Preliminary findings indicate that Panda may have been attacked by unidentified miscreants while he was asleep, who later fled the scene. However, the exact circumstances and motive behind the incident are yet to be established.

Police have launched a detailed probe and are questioning the cook as part of the investigation. Further details are awaited.