Ranpur: It is nearly a month since a man from this block in Nayagarh district was allegedly killed in Dubai where he was working as a labourer, but his body is yet to reach his village.
It has been an endless wait for Sushant Jena’s widow and his two sons– one nine and the other seven – for one last glimpse of him for the past 27 days.
Residents of Randa village of Patia panchayat under Chandpur police limits in Nayagarh district alleged that the district administration had been apprised about the incident. The bereaved family members and neighbours have requested the officials to arrange to bring the body to the village, but to no avail.
Family sources said, Sushant (36), son of Satyabadi Jena of Randa village, had gone to Dubai as a labourer through a middleman of Nachuni village in Khurda district some 11 months ago.
There he was engaged at a construction company four months ago. Once he had called his father to say that he would quit his job and return home as he was being made to work without any remuneration.
He subsequently told his employer he wanted come back home, but he was asked to deposit Rs 90, 000 for permission to leave Dubai.
“My son was in distress. Over phone, he had narrated how he was subjected to physical and mental torture,” said Satyabadi adding he even once said that his life was under threat.
At a time when the family was in distress pondering how to arrange Rs 90, 000 to get Sushant back, they received a photo on the phone showing him hanging by a rope at the construction site. Shocked, Satyabadi contacted the middleman only to be told that his son had committed suicide.
Accusing the company of killing his son, Satyabadi October 5 met the Collector, the Superintendent of Police and the district labour officer (DLO) requesting them to initiate an enquiry into his son’s death and take steps to bring the body back to the village.
Neighbours have urged the administration to take steps to get the body back and extend immediate help to the bereaved and poor family.
When contacted, Collector N Thirumala Naik said he has already informed the higher officials for necessary steps to get the body back to the village. DLO Sachidananda Jena, when asked if any steps have been taken, said efforts are on to get the body back at the earliest. However, since the place of incident is a foreign country, it is taking time. “I have spoken to the family members”, he added.
PNN
