Tension prevailed here as hundreds of villagers, including women, gheraoed the sub-jail and the local police station on Monday following the death of under-trial prisoner (UTP) Prasanna Behera (35) of Seulasahi of Denua Panchayat.
The deceased’s mother linga Behera lodged a FIR in local police station against the jail authorities alleging that they are responsible for her son’s death. But the sub jailer denied the allegation and said Behera might have died due to severe heart pain. He clarified that Behera was given due healthcare facilities but he died at the Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar, while under treatment.
Notably, Behera had been arrested on charges of assaulting his mother as well as his wife, Jharana Behera on December 3. After rejection of his bail plea, he had been sent to the Nimapara sub jail.
SDPO DillipTripathy, IIC Niranjan Padhi and tehsildar Kamaljeet Das rushed to the spot and pacified the villagers. The SDPO contacted Puri SP and assured the agitators of a HRPC investigation. Besides, the local tehsildar assured of Rs 10,000 from the Red Cross to the kin of the deceased.