Bhubaneswar, Aug. 8: Around 100 women domestic workers gheraoed the office of deputy commissioner of police (DCP) today demanding a crime branch probe into the mysterious death of a domestic help in Jayadev Vihar area on August 2.

The women, who reached the DCP’s office in a procession after marching through Jayadev Vihar and Vani Vihar, called off their agitation after half-an-hour following an assurance that the matter would be investigated thoroughly.

The agitators also demanded that a board of doctors examine the postmortem report of the deceased.

The body of the domestic help was found outside the three-storey house of a retried SBI employee in Jayadev Vihar on August 2.

The women, who went to the DCP’s office under the banner of Domestic Women Workers Union, submitted a four-point charter of demands. Sandhyarani Pradhan, secretary of the union, alleged that they had been trying to meet the DCP for the last three days.

“We were not allowed to meet him even after waiting for a long time at his office. So, we had to take to this step,” said Pradhan.

“We also demanded action against the house owner, Prakash Mohapatra, and cash compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the family members of the deceased,” said Pramila Behera, advisor of the union. Mohapatra had already given a compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh to the family earlier.

The domestic help, Janai Pradhan, a native of Phulbani district and resident of Saliasahi, was found dead outside the house of her employer, Mohapatra, near the road joining Mayfair and Biju Patnaik College Square last Tuesday.

Although the house owner claimed that she died after falling from the roof, her husband Debendra Pradhan alleged that she was murdered.

After the news of her death spread, hundreds of slum dwellers congregated near the house and blocked the road.

They did not allow the police to take the body for postmortem. The police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the mob. The police registered a case of unnatural death and were investigating the matter.

The women workers alleged that as the house owner was an influential person, the police are not taking any action against him.

However, the DCP said that he had got to know about their demands and had informed the women about the investigation.

“We have not yet got the postmortem report. Once we get it, we will take steps accordingly,” said Singh.