Who Was Rajashree Swain? Odisha Cricketer Found Dead

26-year-old Rajashree Swain was found hanging from a tree in a forest in Cuttack district. Swain had been missing since January 11 and her scooter was discovered abandoned near a woodland.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Pinak Mishra said Swain was missing since January 11 and her coach filed a complaint on January 12.

Mishra added, "A case of unnatural death has been registered in the matter... We will probe the death from all angles". He also revealed that Swain was found hanging from a tree in the Gurudijhatia forest in the Athagarh area.

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Who Was Rajashree Swain?

• Rajashree Swain was a cricketer from the Puri district who had travelled to the Bajrakabati area for a training camp put on by the Odisha Cricket Association.
• The cricketer was a right-arm fast bowler and middle-order hitter.
• The training camp was put up in preparation for a national-level event in Puducherry.
• Reportedly, Swain was not one of the 16 cricketers selected for the tournament's team roster.
• She was part of the 25-member probable team which attended the training camp. All of the cricketers were staying in a hotel in the locality.
• As per her roommate, the cricketer was seen crying when the name of the team members were announced on Wednesday, January 11.
• Swain left the hotel where they all had been staying for the training session shortly after.
• The next day, Coach Pushpanjali Banerjee filed a missing person's report at the Mangalabag police station in Cuttack after she couldn't be reached by phone.
• Rajashree Swain's family alleged that she was murdered as "the body exhibited injury marks and her eyes were damaged".
• Swain's relatives also alleged that she was denied a spot on the team despite outperforming other players who were chosen.
• However, Subrat Behera, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation said the selection of team members was done in a transparent manner and expressed shock over the cricketer's demise.