BALANGIR: THE head of B C Jena Disabled Centre, B B Jena, was suspended on Thursday following the visit of State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD) Dr Minati Behera to probe into the suicide by the centre’s woman caretaker Nalini Pradhan.
The Commissioner visited the centre at Patharchepa and interacted with the children. She also visited Burobhadi, native village of the caretaker, and spoke to her family members. Sources said during her interaction with the family members, she learnt that Jena too was responsible for Nalini’s suicide besides centre’s secretary Damodar Patel. Patel, who was absconding after the incident on March 20, was nabbed by Balangir Sadar police on March 22. Police had also taken the statements of Jena and of other staff of the centre.
Talking to mediapersons, Minati said, “Jena was also involved in the case as it was he who had forcibly brought her from her home and later sexually exploited her.” Minati has registered a case and sought additional information from the SP and the Collector.
The suicide by the 20-year-old deaf and dumb caretaker triggered resentment in the area. A few days before the incident, Nalini had gone home and was reluctant to return to the institution. But, the office-bearers counselled her and forced her to join office.
According to sources, on the fateful day, she didn’t eat food and tried to convey something in sign language. After the complaint, Jena reprimanded Patel and advised him to behave properly towards women staff. On the same day, around 3 pm, residents of the centre saw smoke in her room and rushed in only to find Nalini with burn injuries. She later succumbed. Balangir Sadar police rushed to the spot and started investigation.