A tearful farewell was accorded to murdered Rayagada teacher Itishree Pradhan as she was cremated at her village Muninda in the Delang area of Puri district early on Saturday morning in the presence of over a thousand villagers, including local MlA Pradeep Maharathy, local block chairperson, block Congress president Ajit Mangaraj and residents of nearby areas, who showed sympathy and solidarity to the bereaved family.
Itishree’s brothers Bijay and Birajai Pradhan had earlier accompanied her body in a special vehicle from Visakhapatnam to their village reaching at about 1.30 am.
There was commotion as Itishree’s brothers prevented her cremation demanding Government employment. MlA Maharathy, Puri Sub-Collector Madhusudan Das and senior police officers consoled the family while the Sub-Collector assured to provide an Anganwadi teacher post to one of Itishree’s sisters.
Itishree’s father Balabhadra Pradhan said she was the only earning member of the family of ten, including four sons, an equal number of daughters besides the parents. “The Government should provide permanent jobs to my children and punish the culprits who perpetrated this ghastly crime,” he demanded.
Itishree’s body was consigned to funeral pyre at about 5.30 am with her nephew performing the last rites.