Brajarajnagar: The body of well-known social activist Ravi Soni was recovered from the banks of the Ib River in Brajarajnagar area of Jharsuguda district Friday, police said. An Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) team recovered the body around 11am after being alerted about the incident. Soni’s wife, Sunita, alleged that he had been murdered and his body dumped in the river. She said she noticed injury marks on his hands, eyes and the back of his head, raising suspicion that he had been assaulted before his death. According to family members, Ravi had left his home Wednesday evening.
The circumstances leading to his death and the people he met afterwards are being investigated by police. Ravi was known for raising civic and developmental issues concerning Brajrajnagar before administrative officials and political leaders. Family members also said he had been facing mental health difficulties in recent days. They alleged that he had been assaulted by some people previously. Police said Ravi had made strong remarks against a minister during the past week and had also criticised a former municipal chairperson and a young BJP leader. Police are examining whether any of these incidents are connected to his death.
The body was sent to the Jharsuguda District Headquarters Hospital Friday afternoon for post-mortem examination. Brajrajnagar police station officer-in-charge Dhabaleswar Sahu said the exact cause of death would be established after the post-mortem examination and further action would be taken based on its findings.
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