Odisha lady teacher’s death: Locals gherao police station, block road demanding action

Hundreds of incensed villagers staged a protest in Pattamundai town of Kendrapara district on Thursday over the alleged death of a school teacher by suicide, demanding immediate action against those responsible.

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The irate residents gheraoed Rural Police Station and blocked roads, expressing frustration over what they called an inordinate delay in action.

The teacher, identified as Mitanjali Senapati, who had been working at a local government school, died on the 17th of this month after allegedly consuming poison. She had taken an extreme step and ended her life by suicide.

According to initial reports, the death was linked to extreme mental distress caused by blackmail from a young man.

Locals claimed that even a week after the incident, no effective measures have been taken by authorities, prompting the residents to take to the streets seeking justice.

The protest highlights growing public concern over accountability and the need for swift legal and administrative action.

“My niece (Mitanjali) had been in a relationship with a youth named Kanha for the last three years. She was a teacher and used to go to a nearby school. Kanha was an auto-rickshaw driver, and he used to take some children from Malipur to the school,” an agitating woman resident, Kamini Biswal, said.

“We are not sure as to how close they were to each other. After she died, we got to know from a handwritten note that she had committed suicide for Kanha. The youth had committed to marry her in court but cheated,” the elderly woman stated.