Nuapada: The Odisha government today suspended Nuapada Tehsildar Debendra Kumar Rout in connection with the self-immolation attempt of a differently abled person of Kalayanpur village Jagdish Chouhan in front of the Tehsil office on Thursday.
“On the basis of the preliminary report sent by us, the Government has suspended the Tehsildar,” informed Nuapada Collector Hema Kanta Say.
Say said that ADM Nuapada has been directed to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident.
After the detailed inquiry by the ADM is over, exactly what had happened will be known, Say added.
“His mother had filed an FIR. The police are doing their investigation and accordingly, they will take legal action,” the Nuapada Collector further said.
Jagdish who was critical after his self-immolation bid succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) in the Burla in Sambalpur district at around 11 PM on Thursday.
According to reports, Jagdish had inherited 3.12 acres of land as ancestral property and wanted to sell it.
As per Section 22 of the Odisha Land Reforms Act, 1960, Jagdish needed a caste certificate from the Tehsildar office before applying to the Sub-collector’s office seeking permission to sell his land.
Accordingly, Jagdish applied for a caste certificate at the Nuapada Tehshildar’s office on March 23, 2022. He was asked to get back after six days to collect the certificate but did not receive the same till March 15, 2023. He had even moved the Collector’s office to expedite matters but received no response.
Over the inordinate delay in getting the caste certificate, a frustrated Jagdish attempted self-immolation in front of the Tehsildar’s office on Thursday.
He was, however, rescued by locals and rushed to the VIMSAR in critical condition. As he had sustained 80% burns he finally succumbed to his injuries on Thursday night.
