Holding Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik responsible for dismissed colleague Sandeep Hati’s bid to self immolate, Odisha Home Guard Association president Prasanna Mallick on Saturday threatened that if their genuine demands are not fulfilled within seven days, all the Home Guards of the State would choose the extreme step Hati has preferred.
Visiting Hati at the SCB Medical College Hospital here, Mallick said Hati was constantly victimised by the capital police after he participated in a protest rally of Home Guards in Bhubaneswar three years ago. “He was retrenched from the service along with 64 others; and despite repeated representations to senior police officers, the Home Secretary and the Chief Minister, nothing changed,” Mallick said, alleging that the Government is responsible for Hati’s plight.
Home Guards from various parts of the State also visited the hospital and reiterated that they stand united behind the cause, for which Hati is fighting.