Malkangiri: Another undertrial prisoner has died in Malkangiri district jail, triggering tension in the town. Family members and relatives of the deceased staged a dharna with the body in front of the jail and were preparing to take the body to National Highway 326. Tension is expected to rise as the crowd swells.
The deceased has been identified as Lakinath Behera of Kalaguda village under Gaudguda panchayat in Malkangiri block. He had been lodged in the jail as an undertrial prisoner for about three months.
According to family members, Lakinath spoke to them over phone on Wednesday morning as usual and did not mention any health issues. However, in the evening they received a call from jail authorities informing that his health had deteriorated and he was being shifted to Malkangiri District Headquarters Hospital.
By the time the family reached the hospital, Lakinath had already died. This led to intense discontent among family members and villagers. They protested in the hospital premises, raising questions over the cause of death.
The family later pushed the body on a stretcher for about 3 km from the hospital to the district jail and staged a dharna in front of the jail gate. Police tried to pacify them, but the agitators remained adamant. At the time of filing this report, the agitation was continuing.
It is worth mentioning that a few days ago, another death of a prisoner in Malkangiri district jail had come to light.
