Paralakhemundi: Locals here in Gajapati district Wednesday morning launched a relay hunger strike over alleged ill-treatment of Gopinath Gajapati Narayan Deo, the ailing Maharaja of Paralakhemundi, by his manager and her two brothers.
Members of Praja Committee, a group comprising prominent citizens of the town formed to ensure the king’s safety, demanded immediate arrest of Anangamanjari Patra, a woman who was overseeing the king’s affair and the maintenance of the palace and her two brothers Tulu and Sanjay Patra.
A controversy erupted Sunday after it came to light that the king was being forced by his manager to live in confinement inside his palace. Anangamanjari and her two brothers are trying to siphon off the king’s properties, locals alleged.
Meanwhile, Gajapati along with Anangamanjari’s two brothers and three members of the Praja Committee was flown to Chennai Tuesday to get advance medical care as his condition was stated to be critical. However, the Patras allegedly abandoned the king at Chennai airport and fled with `4 lakh (meant for the king’s treatment) and medical documents. Tension mounted in Paralakhemundi after the news spread.
On the other hand, college students also staged demonstration before the collectorate Wednesday demanding refund of the cash taken by Sanjay and Tulu and action against them. Following this, the collector asked Sanjay over telephone to hand over the money to the king’s daughter Kalyanidevi along with his medical records. The students relented after it was learnt that the demands were met in the afternoon.
The condition of Gajapati is improving, Apollo hospital authorities Wednesday said.
However, the relay strike was still on as the administration was yet to take action against the Patras. The effort of local tehsildar Kedarnath Bhoi to pacify the agitators didn’t yield any result, it was learnt. PNN