Bhubaneswar, April 27: The state government has ordered an administrative inquiry into the murder of Itishree Pradhan, a schoolteacher (sikshya sahayak) in Tikiri of Rayagada district, which had raised a political storm with Opposition parties accusing BJD leaders of harbouring the culprits.

Itishree was set ablaze on October 27 last year for allegedly refusing to withdraw her sexual harassment complaint against a school sub-inspector. She had succumbed to severe burn injuries at a private hospital in Vishakhapatnam on November 1.

Home secretary Vipin Saxena today told The Telegraph: “The order has been issued in compliance with the order of the Supreme Court.”

Demanding a CBI probe, a Bangalore-based law student had filed a PIL in the Supreme court. Acting on the PIL, the apex court had asked the state government to identify and act against officials and people in positions of power who had failed to respond to the deceased’s repeated plea for help.

Official sources said state agriculture secretary Rajesh Verma would conduct the probe. “Verma will examine the cases covering all points and submit a final report preferably in the next 14 weeks. The case has been entrusted to him as he is a senior IAS officer and has a wide range of administrative experience,” said an official.

The state government was forced to order a Crime Branch probe as the issue snowballed into a major controversy. A team of National Commission for Women also visited the state and expressed its displeasure on the slow pace of the inquiry. A series of rallies and demonstrations were held in the state condemning the incident and demanding action against the guilty.

Police have arrested the prime accused, sub-Inspector of schools Netranand Dandasena. The deceased had brought allegation against Dandasena of sexually exploiting her in his house. Despite her complaints to police, they did not take any action against Dandasena.

In August last year, she had complained to the district collector about the matter who ordered the sexual harassment cell to inquire into the allegations.

Following a report from the cell, the district collector had instructed the district inspector to initiate action against Dandasena, but the district inspector did not take any step.

Dandasena, who was absconding, was putting pressure on the school teacher to withdraw the case.

While she was sleeping in her room in the school hostel on October 27 night, someone poured kerosene on her and set her on fire.

The murder of Itishree had also found an echo in the Assembly. Congress members had staged day and night dharna in the well of the House for three days, forcing the chief minister to make a statement on the actions taken against the accused.