Odisha Family Shocked Over Minor Son's 'Suicide' In Gujarat

Sambalpur: A pall of gloom descended Barab village in Sambalpur after the body of a migrant labourer, a minor boy who had gone to Gujarat to work in a factory, was handed over to his family on Sunday.

Deceased Jiten Pradhan, the eldest son of VV Pradhan of Barab under Rairakhol block had reportedly migrated to Umergam in Gujarat along with some of his friends to work in a cotton factory. On January 3, Jiten's family received a phone call informing that their son is no more.

The family was already in shock and on Sunday when the ambulance carrying Jiten's body reached Barab, irate locals staged a protest and detained the ambulance as well as company authorities seeking the actual cause of death. The protest was later lifted after the authorities provided a compensation of Rs 30,000 to the kin of the deceased, sources said.

Jiten's friends who had accompanied him corroborated that Jiten committed suicide inside his room in Gujarat. "When we saw, Jiten's body was hanging from the ceiling. We brought it down and immediately informed police about the incident. We were interrogated by police and later the body was sent for post mortem," said one Sajal Behera.

The family, however, continues to reject the claims of suicide. "Whatever might be the case, I am sure my grandson hasn't committed suicide," said Jiten's grandmother.