Angul: High drama was witnessed at the grievance cell of the district collectorate here Monday as a woman tried to immolate herself and her seven-year-old son claiming she was being denied her rightful inheritance of her husband’s property.
Reena Nayak, wife of late Bikash Mohanty, tried to immolate herself as well as her son but was thwarted by alert mediapersons who snatched away a matchbox and a kerosene jar from her. The incident triggered frenzy at the collectorate as people rushed to her to assuage her and to get to know her story.
Later, police intervened and took Reena and her minor son to the Angul police station.
Reena, a native of Kumand village, said she married Bikash of Hemsurpada in 2013 after a brief relationship.
However, her in-laws did not accept their marriage following which she had to live at her parents’ house in Kumand village along with her husband. Later, she gave birth to her son in 2009 following which Bikash advised her to shift to Angul for their son’s future.
Reena, instead advised him to talk to his parents and seek permission to return to his house with his wife and son. However, Bikash tragically died in a road mishap September 16, 2015. The event left her devastated and she found it increasingly difficult for her to survive alone with her minor son. She applied for a legal heir certificate in the tehsil office to claim her inheritance of her husband’s property. However, her in-laws allegedly prevailed upon the tehsil officials to deny her the certificate.
Left with no option, she lodged complaints with the district administration and police but none gave a patient hearing to her pleas. She finally gave up and decided that she as well as her son would end their lives in order to escape their ordeal.
When contacted, officials at the district collectorate said the district social welfare committee served a notice on Bikash’s family members at the instructions of the collector. Bikash’s family members however denied any knowledge of Reena and said Bikash had never informed them that he was married.
Police registered a case against Reena under Section-309 of IPC and handed over her son to the child welfare committee. She was detained at the police station before being sent to a short-stay home. PNN
