A youth who attempted self-immolation on the premises of Golanthara Police Station in Ganjam district yesterday night succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday morning.
As per reports, the youth identified as Santosh Samantara, a resident of Randha area under Golanthara Police Station limits of the district had come to the local police station at around 8 pm yesterday apparently to lodge complaints which are yet to be known.
However, after some time, Samantara came out of the police station and set himself on fire after pouring kerosene. He had brought the kerosene-filled can with him, said reports.
By the time the police officials present at the spot managed to douse the flames, he had already suffered critical burn injuries in the immolation bid.
Subsequently, Samantara was rushed to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhmapur and later shifted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar after his health condition deteriorated, added reports.
Berhampur SP, Pinak Mishra who rushed to the MKCH Hospital to enquire Samantara’s health condition, said “The youth had come to the police station to lodge some complaint but all of a sudden he attempted self-immolation there. We don’t know who was exactly giving him threatening. However, the matter will be investigated.”
A relative of Samantara said, “We don’t know what happened at the police station that he took the extreme step.”
On the other hand, the family members and friends of Samantara revealed that he was under some mental stress for the last few days over some unknown reasons.
Worth mentioning here is that Samantara was a witness to the murder of an RTI activist in Golanthara area in 2014.
(Edited By Ramakant Biswas)