Kalinganagar: As many as 16 families of Olal panchayat under Danagadi police outpost in Jajpur district were rendered homeless after a man set his father-in-law’s house ablaze Thursday night that soon engulfed adjacent houses.
Local administration distributed tarpaulin sheets to the victims Saturday while the accused is on the run. While there has been extensive damage to the property, no loss of life has been reported in the incident.
According to locals, Dillip Mallick — a resident of Hatibari area– had married Olal based Sarat Jena’s daughter about 15 years ago. Dillip had since been living in his in-laws’ house. His wife works as an anganwadi worker. Dillip used to return home in an inebriated state and torture his wife mentally and physically.
Thursday night, Sarat had a verbal duel with Dillip over his habit of coming home drunk and beating up his daughter. Later in the night, Dillip, apparently to settle score, poured kerosene and set his in-law’s house on fire while all the members were fast asleep and fled from the scene.
The flame had engulfed houses of 16 families by the time Danagadi fire personnel managed to tame the flame.
Danagadi tehsildar Bulbul Behera said nine families had received tarpaulin sheets Friday and the rest Saturday. The accused is still at large. Registering a case on the basis of a complaint lodged by Sarat’s family, the police have started an investigation and launched a manhunt to nab Dillip, it was learnt.
PNN
