CM announces free treatment of Home Guard

Bhubaneswar: Expressing grave concern over the shocking incident in which Sandip Hati, a retrenched Home Guard tried to commit suicide by setting himself on fire last night near Naveen Nivas, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced that the state government would bear all expenses towards the treatment of the Home Guard.

Wishing his speedy recovery, the Chief Minister said the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) will provide money for the treatment of the Home Guard.

Talking to the media this afternoon, Director General of Police, KB Singh said the Home Guard came on his bike and parked it near a transformer close to Naveen Niwas at about 12 AM yesterday. Later, he poured kerosene on his body and set him on fire. The security guards posted near the residence of the chief minister rushed to the spot admitted him to Capital Hospital from where he was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. “As informed by the doctor, the Home Guard has sustained 65 percent of burn injuries”, he added.

The DGP said the Home Guard was dismissed from the service three years ago on the charge of dereliction of duty. “We are investigating into the case to find out the reasons of his attempt to commit suicide”.

Earlier in the day, Police Commissioner YB Khurania went to SCB Medical College and Hospital to know the condition of Hati.

“The treatment of the Home Guard is underway at SCB Hospital. The doctors have informed that they would shift him to Plastic Surgery ward and take his best possible care. The state government will bear all expenses towards his treatment”, Khurania told the media after his return from the hospital.

“Since the Home Guard is under treatment, I have not been able to talk to him. But I have talked to his father who stays in his village. The Home Guard was presently staying in the house of his father-in-law in the Old Town area in Bhubaneswar. He was terminated from his service three years ago. We will probe into the incident to find out the circumstances for which he tried to commit suicide”, he pointed out.

Talking to media persons, the seriously injured Home Guard said he was posted as a guard at the gate of the official residence of former DCP Nitinjit Singh three years ago. “The incident took place one day when one of the Home Guards on duty gave a pot of hot rice pudding to the wife of the DCP, who, out of anger, threw it at him. Later, I narrated the incident to the members of Home Guard Association. But I did not know that there are two groups in the Association. As one members of the opposite group informed the DCP about what I had said, I was dismissed from my service subsequently”, Hati said.

He alleged that the Home department is deliberately and arbitrarily has taken action against me. “Are these officers aware of the plight of the Home Guards and how they are managing their family? Hati asked.