Senier IAS officer killed family and shot self

Senior IAS officer Jagadananda panda and four of his closed relations were found dead in a pool of blood in his native Deogoan village on the early hours of Friday. The village of senior bureaucrat locates on the Bhatli road under Bargarh district, 60 km from here, has experienced most horrible incident that rocked each and every one of the village. Police suspected Panda to have shot himself after he killed 4 of his family members including father Manuswi Panda (81) two sisters Bijaylaximi and Kishori and wife Surekha (50). All including Panda have bullet injuries on heads as he fired from a point close range. His son Swapnesh (sonu) who also sustain bullet injuries on his head how ever rescues and now battling for his survival in the Hospital.
The cold-blooded drama begins at 2 am night after every one went to sleep. It was his neighbour and mother Chandrakanti who was sleeping in the upstairs of the house rushed to the spot after hearing the bullet. But every thing was almost closed in a tragic scene. “When we heard the sound we came at once but the house was locked inside. Mother opened the door after we shouted. It was horrible inside. When we found both Panda and his son Sonu to be alive we took them to the hospital”, his neighbour Artatran Tripathy told
Police rushed to the spot soon after the incident Police sent the body for autopsy. The suicidal notes .33 revolver and other documents, seized by the police from the house were sufficient to know the evil plan of Panda that conceived in his mind since the day he arrived Bhubaneswar on 27th July. Police registered a case and investigation was begun involving forensic and ballistic experts.
Jagadananda Panda, 83 batch of IAS officer of Orissa cadre was presently posted as ‘protocol general of emigration’ in the overseas department of external affairs ministry, New Delhi while he was on deputation. He was the only IAS officer of the state who served as RDC of all three division of the state. He was holding several posts during his service career. But he was quite upset after CBI raided his official residence and office at Delhi a week ago. Though CBI did not disclose any thing of the cause of the raid, but such raid was sufficient for any self esteem officer to become upset. The suicidal notes revealed that he was quite upset after the raid as he things himself innocent and “falsely implicated” in a emigration scam presently CBI has taken up the probe.
Panda took such a decision after landing in Bhubaneswar as he went to one ‘Jena armory’ where he used to keep his revolver. He brought his revolver along with 40 rounds of ammunitions from the shop. He even went to jungle in the private car he hired from Sambalpur where he tested his revolver with 3 blank fire. Panda told to the driver of the taxi that he wanted to test the revolver to know whether it works properly or not. When the frightened driver asked why he need the revolver, Panda to him he needs the revolver as he wanted to hunting, Police said quoting the statement of the driver.
On the other hand the his son Sonu who was admitted in VSS medical college hospital with bullet injuries on his head had undergone several tests. He remained unconscious since the incident took place. “We did CT scan and MRI test. He is now under medical treatment and his condition has been stable”, a doctor of VSS medical College hospital told. Later with the decision of the government he was shifted to Bhubaneswar through a plane in the evening.
Sources said, in the suicidal note seized by police Panda has advocated his innocently but ultimately situation forces him to such an extreme step. He mentioned that he was upset after the CBI raid. ‘Though innocent I was dragged in a case because of false implication. So I took this extreme step” the suicidal note revealed.
“We have recovered the dead bodies of Panda and 4 other family members. We seized the .32 bore pistol from the house. We have also seized a suicidal note and other documents written by late panda before he took this extreme step we have also registered a case u/s 302 (murder), 309 (suicide) and 306 (attempt to kill) IPC and sent the bodies for autopsy’, Mr. Y B Khurania, IG of police (northern range), Sambalpur said.
According to him the preliminary investigation and circumstances point every thing towards Panda who killed one after another and finally killed himself. “Our preliminary investigation shows that Panda, himself has done every thing. He came to his home village with a plan and finally executed it. However, confirmation of the case will be proved only after forensic and ballistic reports. The forensic experts from Sambalpur have already reached to the spot and the ballistic teams are on their way from Bhubaneswar”, Mr. Khurania told.
It may be mentioned here that Panda came Bhubaneswar with his wife and son on 27th July after taking 3 months leave from the secretary. He was totally upset after the CBI raid on his house and office. As usual he went to Jena armory, where he uses to keep his licensed revolver. He brought the revolver and purchased 40 rounds of cartridges. On 28th he back to his house in a taxi along with his wife and son.
“He even went to a secluded place 7 km away form his village in a car on Thursday till give a final shape to his evil by testing the revolver with 3 round gun fire. He told the driver that he wanted to “hunt’ when driver puts quarry on the blank fire”, quoting the driver IG of police Mr. Khurania told.
The death of panda has left every one baffle as he was a gentle and polish behaved persons. While he was in Sambalpur as RDC few years back he started a campaign of clean Sambalpur when he went in bicycle along with others activists to create awareness. “I was totally shocked to hear the news I talked to him just on 27th July the day he came to Bhubaneswar. He never disclosed me that he was so upset. He was even planned for a feast during nua khai. I can not believe a person like him would involve in any scam or illegal act”, Bijay Pradhan, lecturer of Rengali college and one of his college friend. Panda graduated in GM College, Sambalpur and Post graduation in JNU, New Delhi. He joined IAS in 1983 and became the sub-collector of Dharmagarh (Kalahandi). He holds several key posts including the RDC of all three divisions and relief commissioner before he went to New Delhi on Deputation.