Death of Russians: IB sleuths visit Odisha hotel
Death of Russians: IB sleuths visit Odisha hotel
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Rayagada: With the death of Russian lawmaker Pavel Antov and his buddy in Rayagada shrouded in mystery, sleuths from the Central Intelligence Bureau (IB) visited the hotel for examination on Thursday in this south Odisha town where the two recently died.
According to sources, IB officers visited various locations of the hotel, interacted with personnel, and examined CCTV footage as part of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two Russians.
Members of the team also went to Rayagada police station and the cremation where the bodies of Russian legislator and businessman Pavel Antov and fellow traveller Vladimir Bidenov were burned.
Antov (65) died on December 24 after allegedly falling from the hotel's third story, while Bidenov (61) was discovered dead in his room on December 22. Both were in Rayagada with two other Russian tourists.
According to a statement, an Odisha police Crime Branch (CB) team comprised of four officers and two forensic experts has been created to help the CID in its investigation into the fatalities.
The new team, led by a deputy superintendent of police level officer, is tasked with visiting the scene, questioning witnesses, identifying and collecting evidence from the scene and local police, and taking appropriate action.
The CID-CB is contacting family members of the deceased to double-check the accuracy of information gathered during the investigation of two other Russians, Pansasenko Natalia (44) and Turov Mikhail (64) who were with Antov and Bidenov.
On December 21, the four Russians and their Delhi-based travel advisor and interpreter Jitendra Singh checked into the hotel.
"Both Russian vacationers are completely participating with the investigation," according to the statement.
The CID team also questioned Jitendra Singh, according to the statement, which also stated that "the CID-CB Team has further gathered copies of documentation detailing their journey in India." According to investigators, the Russian MP died as a result of internal injuries sustained in a fall, whilst Bidenov died as a result of a heart attack.
According to authorities, the two deceased's final rites were done with the approval of their family members and the Russian Embassy.
Antov's viscera samples were not preserved before his body was burned. Bidenov's, on the other hand, were saved.
A local official explained why the Russians came to Rayagada: they wanted to see tribal life and culture.
