Bhubaneswar: A 26-year-old Dalit man was found hanging in the Kendrapada collector’s office allegedly after failing to sell his land to buyers, prompting opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to hit out at the BJP government in the state.
The deceased was identified as Srichandan Mallick of Raitundi village under Nikirei police limits. Police sources said Srichandan hanged himself from the iron railings of the collector’s office with a towel at on Friday afternoon. Due to morning office, a handful of people were present at the collectorate when the incident occurred.
Reacting sharply to the incident, BJD on Saturday alleged that the suicide of a Dalit man at the Collector’s office is a stark example of the government’s insensitivity and administrative failure.
Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar, Kendrapada MLA Ganeswar Behera and Rajanagar MLA Dhruba Sahoo said it is unfortunate man ended his life within the premises of the Collector’s Office after repeatedly approaching the office for justice but failing to receive any relief.
Behera said such a tragic incident occurring in broad daylight at the district’s principal administrative office reflects the government’s complete lack of sensitivity. The deceased youth had repeatedly visited the Collector’s Office seeking redressal of his personal grievance and, after facing continuous disappointment, was compelled to take such an extreme step.
The incident has exposed how the BJP government, which claims to be a “people’s government,” has turned a blind eye to the problems of ordinary citizens, Behera alleged.
The fact that a young man could take his own life in the presence of administrative officials within the Collector’s Office premises, without anyone noticing or intervening, raises serious questions about the administrative and security arrangements in place, he said.
Dhruba Sahoo stated that the Chief Minister claims that within two years his government has resolved the grievances of 96 percent of the people through its grievance redressal mechanism.
“Today, the death of Shri Chandan Das is a grim mockery of those claims. People approach the Collector, as the representative of the government, in the hope of obtaining justice. It is only when a person completely loses faith in the government system that he resorts to such an extreme measure,” he said.
The government must provide adequate compensation to the family of deceased and a high-level inquiry should be conducted and immediate, stringent action must be taken against the officials found responsible, the BJD leaders said. Otherwise, BJD will launch a strong agitation and take its protest to the streets.
