Jajpur: In a shocking incident, an elderly man was dragged out of his house in front of family members and thrashed to death by staff of a private finance company for his failure to repay remaining Rs 100 of the loan amount at Kuanriakula village under Bairi police limits of Jajpur district on Thursday.
Family members of the deceased, identified as Narahari Mallick, alleged the four staff of Annapurna Microfinance dragged the elderly man from his house when he showed his incapability to repay remaining Rs 100 after handing over them Rs 700 as the last instalment of Rs 15,000 loan taken from Annapurna finance company. Though Narhari beg before the finance company staff to allow them time till 10 am on Friday to repay the remaining Rs 100, the four persons of Annapurna shoved the elderly person and beaten him to death.
In a sobbing state Litu Mallick, son of the deceased, said, “We had repaid 17 instalments of the loan earlier and today we were supposed to repay the last instalment. As we had no money, we managed to give the finance company staff Rs 700 and told them to hand over Rs 100 on Friday. However, the four persons demanded to take Rs 100 today itself. Showing my incapability to arrange Rs 100, I told them I will give the money on Friday once paddy cutting labour wages are paid to me. Seeing their insistence to take Rs 100, my father also requested the finance company staff while holding their hands to allow them time till 10 am Friday. But they kicked and thrashed my father following which he died on the spot.”
Rekha Mallick, daughter-in-law of the deceased, said, “My family had taken loan of Rs 1.5 lakh together along with nine other families from the finance company located at Chandikhol. Therefore, my family had to repay Rs 15,000 loan in 18 instalments. Earlier, we had paid 17 instalments and today we were supposed to pay the last instalment. We were falling short of Rs 100 which my father-in-law tried to arrange but fail as no one was ready to lend on Thursday.”
She added, “The finance company staff insisted to take the remaining Rs 100 though my father-in-law promised them to repay the money by 10 am Friday. They dragged my father-in-law out of the house, kicked and beaten up mercilessly resulting in his death on the spot.
She further stated with the help of locals two accused were caught and handed over to police.
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Meanwhile, tension erupted in the area with the villagers staged a road blockade and gheraoed the police vehicle demanding compensation to the bereaved family and arrest of other accused. After assurances from the district administration officials including the local Tehsildar and SDPO on the spot, the irate locals withdrew the stir.
Jugal Kishore Das, Jajpur SDPO, said, “A case has been registered at the Bairi police station regarding the death of the elderly man and probe has begun. Two accused have been arrested and will be forwarded to a court. Efforts are on to catch the other accused.”
A district administration official said, “We express our sympathy towards the family of the deceased. As per the collector’s directive, we have handed over Rs 10,000 from the Red Cross Fund to the deceased family and arrangements will be made to provide other necessary assistance.”