Vikash Sharma

Bhubaneswar: A day after the high drama following a hostage-like-situation outside Odisha Assembly, several question are now being raised over the health condition of the youth who held his mother hostage at knifepoint.

Was the accused, Jitendra Pal mentally unsound or there is some other motive behind him resorting to such an extreme step? Such questions are now being raised in different quarters.

Earlier yesterday, Commissionerate Police tweeted, "A youth, with known psychiatric ailments, held her mother hostage outside the security perimeter of the State Assembly. Police Officers patiently dealt with the hostage situation & safely rescued the mother." (SIC)

However, Jitendra’s father, Ramesh Pal claimed that his son was working at a private company and it was only 10 to 12 days back that he had returned to the village. He was staying in a rented accommodation in Bhubaneswar, Ramesh added.

“My son informed that he needs to undergo a surgery and asked his mother to accompany him. Yesterday, both my wife and son left for Bhubaneswar in a bus and I am not aware what happened there,” said Ramesh.

It is pertinent to mention here that Ramesh and his wife were arrested and sent to jail in connection with a murder case in 2014. Jitendra was also named in the case.

To a question whether Jitendra is mentally unstable or not, his father Ramesh said, "My son was completely normal when we were in jail. He was behaving normally with others."

Ramesh further claimed that my son was studying and staying in Bhubaneswar and we have no more information about him.

Meanwhile, Jitendra has been admitted to the Psychiatry Department of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

(Edited By Bikram Keshari Jena)

Also Read: Hostage Drama Outside Odisha Assembly: Accused Youth Mentally Unstable, Claim Police

scrollToTop