When the nation was celebrating the 68th Republic Day with much fanfare on Thursday, an aggrieved family of Angul district attempted self-immolation outside the stadium at Angul when Minister Debi Prasad Mishra was hoisting the Tricolour and taking salutes.
The incident shattered all present there. Ranjita Dehury (35) along with her husband Santosh (48) and two daughters, Suchismita (14) and Subhasmita (11) tried to commit suicide by pouring kerosene on persons. However, timely intervention of police personnel saved their lives. Ranjita was admitted in the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH). Her condition was stable, doctors said.
They belong to Raniguda village, about 4 km from Angul. The severity of their pain is such that the couple wanted to return scholarships (Class III and V) of Subhasmita while alleging that they have been deprived of justice by all concerned.
According to information, Santosh’s younger brother has grabbed all parental properties. Even, he has attacked Ranjita many times. Deep injury marks on her neck, shoulders and other parts of the body bear the testimony of attacks.
As police didn’t take any action, they wrote to the district administration, the Chief Minister, the Prime Minister and even the President seeking their support, but none of them responded to their grievances.
Feeling frustrated and crestfallen, they opted to commit suicide.
“We are deprived of justice and, hence, we have decided to kill ourselves to give the nation a message of deprivation,” Ranjit told reporters.
However, district collector Anil Samal assured that he would look into the matter soon. The Minister’s version could not be taken as he had left the venue by the time reporters moved from Ranjita to the stadium.