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Cuttack: The man who attempted self-immolation on November 8 in front of the Collectorate in Kendrapara succumbed to burn injuries while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital here on Saturday.
Alleging harassment by police, Niranjan Singh (45) of Samagudia village on the outskirts of Kendrapara town, had doused himself with kerosene before setting on fire. He was admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) and later shifted to SCB after his condition deteriorated.
The incident had taken place around 10 am when most of the Collectorate staff had gone to attend a meeting called by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Mahakalpada. A couple of persons present at Collectorate tried to save Singh who suffered 70 per cent burns.
Later in the day, the bereaved family members, protesting the gross apathy of the district administration, staged dharna in front of the office of the Kendrapara collector by keeping the body of Singh, demanding compensation of Rs 20 lakh, job to one of the family members and arrest of the collector.
Ranjita Singh, wife of Niranjan said, “Police arrested my husband in a land dispute case with an ulterior motive. Some persons illegally acquired our Indira Awas House in the village last month for which we filed an FIR against them in the police station. Instead of arresting them, police arrested my husband.”
“My husband and I have been running from pillar to post to get justice from the district administration. We had submitted a petition to the Collector in his grievance cell. But, the authorities did not pay any heed to us for which my husband tried to immolate himself,” she added.
Blaming the collector for the death of her husband, Ranjita later lodged a complaint against him with the Kendrapara Town Police Station.
Talking to media persons, collector Deba Prasad Das said the administration will provide Rs 10,000 to the family of the deceased and will take necessary steps as per rules.
