A day after he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in the lady teacher Itishree Pradhan murder case, former Inspector of Schools (SI) Netrananda Dandasena on Wednesday went on a fast-unto-death inside the Rayagada Sub-Jail protesting against his “wrongful” conviction.
On Tuesday, after pronouncement of the verdict, Dandasena had claimed that injustice was meted out to him.
“I have become a victim of conspiracy by senior bureaucrats and political leaders. I will stage a fast-unto-death until I get justice,” he had said.
Meanwhile, Rayagada Sub-Jail Superintendent Rajkishore Nayak said Dandasena submitted a petition to him regarding his hunger strike on Wednesday morning, adding that he has informed the Additional Director General (ADG), Prisons, the Brahmapur IG, the Koraput Senior Jail Superintendent and the Rayagada district Collector about this.
He said that in response to Dandasena’s petition, arrangements were made for a special cell and a special warden for him. Adequate water facility was made for him in the cell.
The District and Sessions Judge Court on Tuesday had convicted Dandsena and awarded life imprisonment to him in the murder of Itishree Pradhan, who died at a private hospital at Vishakhapatnam on November 1, 2013, five days after she was set on fire in a hostel room of the Tikiri UP School in Rayagada district.
Meanwhile, sources said the former school SI’s family members would also stage hunger strike in protest against the “injustice”.