Bhubaneshwar/Rayagada (Odisha): Veteran
tribal Congress leader and former Odisha minister Ramachandra
Ulaka died in Bhubaneshwar today after suspected heart attack
but some of his kin alleged foul play, prompting authorities
to order an inquiry.
Ulaka, 77, complained of breathing problem and was taken
to hospital where doctors declared him dead in the wee hours,
his family members said.
Hailing from the tribal-dominated Rayagada district, Ulaka
was an eight-time MLA and member of Parliament twice.
However, a controversy cropped up as his body reached his
native place in Rayagada from Bhubaneswar for cremation.
As Ulaka's body was being taken in a procession,
Sibashankar Ulaka and Gourishankar Ulaka, two sons of Janaki
Ulaka, one of the three wives of the Congress leader, alleged
that their father was "killed".
Slogan shouting supporters of the leader's sons
marched towards the procession and prevented the body from
being taken for cremation.
The sons filed a brief "two-line" complaint tonight at
Rayagada police station saying that they suspected their
father was killed by somebody, police said.
Based on the complaint, Rayagada police had asked the
Commissionerate of Police at Bhubaneswar to file a report in
this connection.
They have also been asked to get the report of the
doctor who was on duty and examined Ulaka, police said.
The cremation has been put on hold, police said.
Ulak was a minister in the state five times and held
portfolios like tribal welfare, environment and forest and
mass education.
PTI
First Published: Monday, December 26, 2011, 00:28