Bhubaneswar: Odisha Home Guard Association president Ranjan Kumar Mallik has threatened to self-immolate in front of Vidhan Sabha on August 25 unless Chief Minister Mohan Majhi addresses his concerns about poor service conditions.
In a video message, Mallik criticised the outdated Orissa Home Guards Act, 1961, for denying them the basic rights. He highlighted issues like absence of pensions, Employees Provident Fund, and sufficient leave.
While listing 15 demands, he alleged conspiracies and death threats against him for taking up the cudgels for home guards. “I would like to speak to you regarding these conspiracies with evidence. It is important for me to meet you as I suspect risk to my life in the next five days,” he said in his address to the CM.
Mallik further stated that he was ready to undergo a polygraph test, asserting he was accept any punishment if proven wrong. He also accused authorities of providing false data to the President about the condition of home guards.
He has also written to the CM in this regard.
In May 2023, he had written to the President, seeking permission for mercy killing due to the inability to sustain his family on the current salary despite approaching the Supreme Court. He also criticised the previous Biju Janata Dal government for stopping new recruitments and the practice of compassionate appointments for family members of deceased home guards.
In November 2024, the Mohan Majhi government lifted the ban on home guard appointments, a move which Mallik welcomed and thanked the Chief Minister for.