Odisha man dies by suicide after daughter’s public humiliation in ‘kangaroo court’

A disturbing incident of alleged mob justice occurred last night at Chadadia panchayat under Bansada police limits and Chandbali block of Bhadrak district, where an elderly man died following severe mental distress linked to a so-called ‘kangaroo court’.

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This incident of untimely death by suicide came to light after an FIR was lodged in this connection on Monday. The deceased was identified as Lambodar Tarei, and his daughter as Laxmipriya Parida.

According to the FIR, a group of local women and some youths accused the elderly man’s family of involvement in the illegal liquor trade and took the law into their own hands. They allegedly forced their way into the house of the elderly man’s daughter, vandalised the property, assaulted her, and publicly humiliated her by parading her through the village and the local marketplace in front of a large crowd.

The situation allegedly escalated further when the elderly man was summoned, verbally abused, and humiliated. The family claimed that an unlawful fine of Rs 1 lakh was imposed, out of which cash of Rs 10,000 was forcibly taken before the woman was released.

Perturbed by the humiliation of his daughter, perhaps, the elderly man decided to take an extreme step and ended his life by consuming poison. Following the incident, the elderly man’s health condition deteriorated, and he later died despite being taken to a hospital in Chandbali.

A complaint was subsequently lodged at Bansada police station by the victim's family. After receiving a formal complaint from the bereaved family, police reached the spot, seized the body, and initiated an investigation. Authorities said further action will be taken based on the findings of the probe.

“I was previously doing the liquor trade. After submitting an undertaking at the police station, I had stopped the activity. They (some locals) came and asked me whether I am still doing the liquor business. I told them ‘no’. But, they did not listen to anything thereafter and started vandalising my household articles,” Laxmipriya Parida said.

However, no comments were received from the local police in this regard.

Reported By: Trilochan Sahu