Dhenkanal,(Reporterspen), April 27: In Odisha’s Dhenkanal district, a tragic incident unfolded as a married woman allegedly fatally assaulted her elderly mother over a trivial matter on Saturday. The victim, 85-year-old Durgabati Das, resided with her 55-year-old daughter, Ashalata Das, in Brahman Khantakhola village under Bhuban police station.
Ashalata, who had been married for 30 years but had been living with her mother for the past six months, reportedly had frequent quarrels with her mother. Durgabati’s son, Alok Das, who resides and works in Talcher, regularly checked in on his mother via phone calls. However, on Saturday morning, when he received no response from his mother, he grew concerned and urged his sister, who lives nearby, to check on her.
Upon arriving at their residence, Alok’s sister discovered the front door locked from the inside and received no response despite repeated attempts to communicate with her mother. Alarmed, she sought assistance from villagers, who intervened by breaking open the door.
Tragically, they found Durgabati lying lifeless in a pool of blood. The authorities from Bhuban police station promptly launched an investigation into the matter. Preliminary findings indicated that Ashalata, who reportedly struggles with mental health issues, engaged in frequent altercations with her mother. Neighbors attested to hearing heated arguments between them on the morning of the incident.
Furthermore, police discovered a wooden plank with bloodstains near the victim’s body, raising suspicions about Ashalata’s involvement. Consequently, authorities detained Ashalata for questioning and have initiated legal proceedings, registering a case of unnatural death. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the cause of death.
