In a shocking incident, the son of a jewellery owner reportedly thrashed an employee to death over loot of ornaments worth Rs 60 lakh in Jharsuguda district. The deceased’s family members were also assaulted by the jeweller’s son and his associates. The incident has sent shockwaves in the area.
Locals demanded the immediate arrest of the accused. The deceased has been identified as Suresh Pandey of Maheswarpinda village in Boudh district. Suresh is now survived by his ailing elderly parents, his wife and nine-month-old baby.
With the death of their only son, the heartbroken near ones of Suresh have been left to fend for themselves as he was the sole breadwinner for the family.
According to sources, Suresh worked as a salesman at Jharsuguda-based Odissi Jewellery World owned by the accused Navneet Sarwagi alias Chotu’s father.
Sources said, Chotu and his aides accused Suresh of looting jewellery ornaments worth over Rs 60L over the time. They closed him in a room and brutally assaulted him after finding about the theft through CCTV footage and a price tag.
Later, they handed over Suresh to the local police who admitted him to Jharsuguda district headquarters hospital (DHH) in a critical condition. After preliminary treatment, he was shifted to Burla-based VIMSAR hospital where he died while undergoing treatment.
"He has a 9-month-old son. Who will now take care of him? Who will take care of my family. He was the sole breadwinner of the family. How long will I survive to take care of them," said an inconsolable Arjun Pandey, father of the deceased.
"He called us and locked us inside a house. He snatched away all our money. He then assaulted us and threatened to kill us and sell our kidneys," alleged Naresh Pandey, brother of the deceased.
After outrage from all quarters, local police have arrested Chotu. Further investigation is on, police said.