2 migrant workers from Odisha die weeks apart; families allege negligence, murder

In two separate incidents, two migrant workers from Odisha have died under mysterious circumstances. Families of the workers alleged negligence and murder on Friday.

Also Read: Over 430 Odisha migrant workers lost lives outside state since 2019: Minister in Assembly

In the first incident, a migrant worker from Ganjam district, who had been missing for nearly a month, was finally traced—sadly, only as a buried, unidentified body. His family had been desperately searching since he failed to return home from work.

Police in Telangana had recovered an unknown corpse and, after waiting for several days for identification, buried it as per protocol.

The deceased, Balaram Gouda of B. Turubudi village under Digapahandi block, had worked as a migrant labourer for nearly ten years. Recently employed as a daily wager in Mumbai, he had fallen ill and begun his journey home by train.

Balaram had reportedly got down at Tandur Railway Station in Telangana, where local police later found his body near the tracks.

Unaware of this, his family searched for weeks. Two days ago, Balaram’s younger brother and wife finally reached Tandur Police Station, where they were shown photos of the body recovered earlier.

Shocked by recognition, they learnt he had already been buried as an unidentified person. Collecting soil and remains from the burial site, the family returned home and performed symbolic last rites.

The entire village plunged into grief, with the local sarpanch demanding State government support for the impoverished family.

In the second incident, the family of Jaya Mallik of Dengaamba village in Gajapati district has alleged murder after he was found hanging in a Goa hotel bathroom, where he worked. Jaya, who supported his household by repaying loans and funding his siblings’ education, was discovered suspended with a towel.

While police initially suspected suicide, the family insists he was killed and then hanged to mislead investigators. They have demanded a thorough probe and compensation.

However, no comments were received from local police in these two incidents.

Reported By: Satyanarayan Padhi, Mihir Jati