Ramanaguda: A Class V student of Parikhiti Sevashram under Ramanaguda block in Rayagada district committed suicide Sunday night. The deceased boy was identified as Narendra Nimal (12), son of Rabi Nimal of Penakam village.
According to accounts of other inmates of the ashram, Rabi asked them to go to bed early at about 10 pm Sunday so they can get up early in the morning. Rabi was assigned to sound the bell to wake the other inmates in the morning.
However, the bell never sounded. Growing suspicious, other students went to his room and to their profound shock found him hanging from the ceiling. They brought down Narendra’s body hoping he was still alive and informed headmaster Anamcharan Thibar. Later, Ramanaguda outpost officials were informed. Hundreds of people rushed to the spot as news of the boy’s death spread in the area.
Sub-divisional police officer Niranjan Behera and inspector in-charge Nirmal Panigrahi of Gunupur arrived at the school and probed the matter. “Preliminary investigation suggests it to be a clear case of suicide but the reason as to why the boy chose to resort to such a drastic step would only be clearer after the post-mortem,” police said.
The villagers staged a road blockade for some time at Penakam. It was withdrawn after police along with tehsildar Rakhalchandra Parida pacified the irate mob. A case of unnatural death was registered at Ramanaguda outpost.
Gunupur PA-ITDA Karunakar Raika and ADWO Seemanchal Sahoo met the bereaved parents and promised compensation according to government norms.
