Body of Odia labourer arrives from Kuwait; Jay Panda pays tribute

Bhubaneswar: Body of an Odia labourer who died in Kuwait arrived in Bhubaneswar today. The deceased identified as Papina Lenka from Podana village of Niali area in Cuttack, was engaged as a plumber in Kuwait.

After the body arrived at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BJIA), former MLA Baijayant Jay Panda paid his tributes and offered condolences to the family members of the deceased.

Panda alleged that Odisha government is spending crores of rupees on advertisements but has failed to provide jobs to the youths of the state. He said that thousands of Odisha residents are leaving the State in search of jobs.

As per reports, family members of the deceased had sought Panda's help to bring back the body.

"When the family members contacted me, I spoke to the higher authorities to bring the body from Kuwait. If the amount of money used by the State government in advertisements is used for creating jobs for youths, it would not force them to leave the State," Panda said.

According to sources, Papina had gone to Kuwait last December. The reason behind his death is yet to be ascertained.

"We had contacted Baijayant Panda sir to bring back the body. Authorities are saying that he committed suicide but there is no proof of how he died," said a relative of the deceased.