Bhubaneswar, Feb 16: A hotel owner was found dead with severe head injuries under mysterious circumstances in the Simulia area of Balasore district, triggering a police investigation.

The deceased has been identified as Ganjendra Panda (59), proprietor of Jay Maa Durga Hotel under Simulia police limits. According to reports, Panda was discovered lying unresponsive in his hotel room located along National Highway-16 near Jamujhadi on Monday morning.

The hotel had shut its shutters late Sunday night after serving its last customers, following which Panda retired to his room. On Monday morning, the cook, identified as Ramesh, attempted to wake him but received no response. He alerted locals, who informed police. Panda’s brother, Surendra Prasad Panda, subsequently lodged a formal complaint.

Preliminary investigation indicates that Panda may have been murdered while asleep, with unidentified miscreants allegedly attacking him and fleeing the scene. Police have begun a detailed probe to ascertain the motive behind the killing. The cook and other staff are being questioned, while forensic examination and evidence collection are underway.

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