Bhubanswar, Feb. 18: The state government today ordered a crime branch probe into the death of Rayagada district welfare officer Dhaneswar Prusty, who allegedly committed suicide inside his office yesterday.

Prusty's body was found hanging from a fan in his office, about 620km from here. A suicide note, purportedly written by him, accuses the district collector and other officials of driving him to take the step.

The incident found its echo in the Assembly today with the Opposition parties forcing two adjournments in the House.

Additional director-general of police (crime branch) B.K. Sharma said: "A special team has been formed after the government had ordered a probe. The committee will reach Rayagada tomorrow to start the investigation."

In the suicide note, Prusty held district collector Sashi Bhusan Padhi and project administrator of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency Gora Chand Gomang responsible for his death. "In the note, Prusty has named the project administrator and another official. We have sent the letter to the forensic laboratory to verify its genuineness," said Rayagada police superintendent K. Shiva Subramani.

Prusty's wife Kamini Sahu has lodged an FIR, stating that Padhi and Gomang were responsible for the death of his husband. "My husband had been in mental stress and under pressure. Harassed by his senior officers namely Padhi and Gomang, he had taken the step. Even though I had raised the issue before the collector, no one had taken up this issue," Kamini told reporters.

However, both the accused denied the allegations. Padhi told reporters: "Prusty was our good officer. Rayagada, being a big district, the workload here is immense. He had to look after the welfare of 45,000 children staying in hostels. So, there was constant pressure."

In the Assembly, Congress members, led by its chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati, today trooped into the floor of the House, demanding immediate arrest of the district collector and the project administrator of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency. "The chief minister should issue a statement on this issue," said Bahinipati.

He alleged that corruption cases had been brought against the two officers. "As the deceased's wife has brought allegations, they should be properly inquired and a case of murder be registered against them."

The House also witnessed repeated adjournments over this issue.

Normality was restored only after Speaker Niranjan Pujari had assured the members of taking up the issue tomorrow.

In another development, Congress workers today held a demonstration before Rayagada police station, demanding arrest of the district collector as well as the project administrator of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency.

Rayagada District Congress Committee president Durga Prasad Panda said: "We will continue to protest and organise the rallies till the accused are arrested."