Youth dies following self-immolation in Cuttack; Police probe conflicting claims

A youth, who sustained critical burn injuries after allegedly setting himself on fire in Odisha’s Cuttack district, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital on Monday.

The incident occurred in Ostia village under Banki, where the deceased, identified as Amiya Singh, allegedly poured an inflammable substance over himself and set himself ablaze. Hospital authorities confirmed that nearly 90 per cent of his body had sustained burn injuries.

Family Alleges Employment-Related Distress

The deceased’s brother, Abhijit Singh, alleged that Amiya had been under prolonged mental distress due to unresolved employment issues following their father’s death. He claimed that despite the passage of seven years since their father’s demise, no family member had been offered employment under the compassionate appointment scheme.

Abhijit alleged that the family was repeatedly informed that their application was under process, but later discovered that the file had not moved beyond the district administration level.

“Officials told us our file had been forwarded to higher authorities. However, we recently learnt that it is still pending with the Cuttack Collector. Many years have passed, but no decision has been taken. Unable to bear this uncertainty, he slipped into depression. Despite completing all formalities, no job was offered. Our father passed away at Cuttack Hospital in 2019, and it is now 2026,” Abhijit said.

Victim’s Statement Indicates Harassment

However, Amiya reportedly gave a different version while undergoing treatment. According to police sources, he alleged that a woman named Mona had been blackmailing him, causing severe mental stress.

In his statement, Amiya reportedly said that the alleged harassment pushed him to take the extreme step. He denied any link between the incident and the pending employment matter.

Investigation Underway

Police have taken note of the contradictory statements and said a detailed investigation is underway to ascertain the exact circumstances that led to the incident. Officials said all angles are being examined.

Also Read: Youth critical after self-immolation bid in Cuttack’s Banki, Police probe on

At the time of reporting, no official statement had been issued by the police or hospital authorities.