Govt shifts Rayagada District Collector, uproar in Assembly

Amidst demand for a CBI probe into the alleged suicide of Rayagada District Welfare Officer (DWO), Odisha government today shifted the District Collector and Project Administrator of ITDA, accused of harassing the DWO, even as opposition parties raised a storm in the Assembly demanding strong action against the guilty.
Rayagada District Collector Sashi Bhusan Padhi has been transferred and posted as the Additional Secretary in the Health and Family Welfare department here while PA, Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Gorachand Gamang has been shifted to the District Rural Development Agencies as Assistant Project Director (APD), official sources said.
Additional Secretary in School and Mass Education Department Jagannath Mohanty has been posted as the new District Collector of Rayagada.

The state government's action came in view of DWO Dhaneswar Prusty's wife Kamini Sahu lodging an FIR against Padhi and Gamang.
She has alleged that her husband was subjected to mental harassment by the two senior officers leading to his suicide.
Prusty (59) had allegedly committed suicide by hanging from the celling fan of his office on February 17.

The issue was raised in the Assembly today with opposition Congress and BJP boycotting the House demanding stringent actions against Padhi and Gamang.
"The government has instead provided prize posting to Rayagada district collector by giving him posting as the Additional secretary in Health and Family Welfare department," said leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress.

BJP also strongly criticised the government for not initiating legal proceeding against Padhi and Gamang whose names figured in the suicide notes of Prusty.
"We demand strong action against the officers duo who forced Prusty to commit suicide," said BJP legislature party leader Basant Kumar Panda.
The Opposition members also created uproar in the state Assembly demanding action against the two officials and sought a reply from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the issue.
Meanwhile, the state government has ordered the Crime Branch of police to probe into the death of Prusty.