OAPF Constable Found Hanging in Dhenkanal, Police Probe Suspected Suicide

Dhenkanal: An Odisha Auxiliary Police Force (OAPF) constable was found dead inside his rented house in Dhenkanal town on Monday, with police suspecting that he may have died by suicide.

The deceased was identified as Sankar Pradhan, a native of Katama village in Gajapati district. He had been living in a rented asbestos-roofed house at Khamar Sahi

According to police, Pradhan’s body was discovered hanging from an iron beam in the kitchen, with a towel around his neck. Following the information, personnel from Dhenkanal Town Police Station reached the house, recovered the body and sent it to the District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem examination.

Police have registered a case of unnatural death and begun an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. Officials are also examining all possible angles, including a reported dispute within the family.

A preliminary inquiry reportedly found that Pradhan had been suspended from service last year in connection with allegations related to alcohol consumption. Police sources said he had a quarrel with his family on Sunday night and allegedly asked his wife and child to leave the house.

Based on the preliminary findings, police suspect that the domestic dispute may have preceded the suspected suicide. However, the exact cause of death will be established only after the post-mortem examination and completion of the investigation.

Further investigation is underway.