Nitesh Kumar Sahoo

Baripada: A migrant worker, who was lodged at a quarantine centre in Mayurbhanj district following his return from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, allegedly committed suicide on Friday outside the facility, police said.

Surendra Behera (38), a resident of Raikama village in the district, was found hanging from a tree with a lungi around his neck near the isolation centre in Baisinga police station area, Inspector In-Charge (IIC) Laxmidhar Swain said.

Prima facie, it appears to be a case of suicide, Swain said.

The 38-year-old had returned from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh along with wife six days ago. Both of them were placed under quarantine, Swain said.

A case of unnatural death has been registered in this connection, the IIC said, adding that the body has been sent for post-mortem to PRM Medical College and Hospital in Baripada.

Recently, a migrant worker from Kendrapara district stranded in Haryana since the lockdown was imposed, allegedly committed suicide. As reported, he committed suicide on Wednesday by hanging himself from a tree after his desperate pleas failed to make an impact on the government and the construction company he was working with.

The deceased Gangadhar Biswal was a resident of Bijapur village under Rajkanika block in Kendrapara district and was working with the firm in Haryana for some years now.

As per his roommate, Gangadhar was ill for since a few days and wanted to return home. However, he was unable to do so due to the lockdown which left him in severe mental distress. Apart from mental distress, the financial crisis was another big reason which might have triggered his suicidal intention.

Gangadhar along with other stranded people had accused the State government and the construction firm of apathy and requested to help him and make arrangements for his return to Odisha.

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(With PTI Inputs)

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