Villagers of Muninda under Delang block in the district on Saturday bid a tearful adieu to Itishree Pradhan who succumbed to burn injuries at a hospital in Visakhapatnam on Friday.
Itishree, who hailed from Delang, was working as a Siksha Sahayika at a project UP school in Tikiri, Rayagada. One among eight siblings, she was the lone earning member of her family.
After battling for life for five days, Itishree, who was set on fire by some miscreants for allegedly refusing to withdraw a complaint of molestation, died on Friday. She sustained 90 per cent burns. After her body was brought to the village, the administrative officials came to take the body to the crematorium. But, her parents protested demanding adequate compensation and job. “We come from very poor economic background and Itishree was our only earning member,” said the Itishree’s father Balabhadra Pradhan. He also sought stringent action against the accused.
They were pacified after Sub-Collector Madhusudan Das and MLA Pradip Maharathy assured of providing an anganwadi teacher post to one of Itishree’s sisters. The mortal remains were consigned to flame at 5.30 am.
‘None Bothered About Her Complaint’
Berhampur: The staff of project UP school at Tikiri where Itishree worked as a Siksha Sahayika have held the administration responsible for her death. They said no one took her allegation against sub-inspector of schools Netranand Dandasena seriously.
“There is no point in shedding tears now. Had the officials taken action against the accused on time, she could have been alive,” said a colleague of Itishree.
On Saturday morning, a six-member Crime Branch team headed by DSP Alok Das reached Tikiri to investigate the case. They questioned the staff of the school and interacted with students.
Meanwhile, activists of Congress and BJP, besides Kalinga Sena staged demonstrations against the State Government over Itishree’s death.
People in Kashipur observed a six-hour bandh demanding exemplary punishment to the culprits.
Meanwhile, BJD leader Jayaram Pangi who is accused of engaging goons to kill Itishree, refuted the allegation. Stating that it was a ploy by his rivals to defame him, Pangi said he was open to CBI inquiry.
Ex-MLA Demands CBI Probe
Koraput: Former MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati has demanded CBI probe into Itisree’s murder. Addressing mediapersons, he said BJD leader and Koraput MP Jayaram Pangi and School and Mass Education Minister Rabinarayan Nanda were involved in the killing. Dandasena had links with political leaders of Koraput and was promoted by Nanda, he added.
The Teacher’s Unending Ordeal
On July 18, Itishree lodged a complaint against the accused Netranand Dandasena at Tikiri police station.
When she joined the Project UP School on June 18, 2011, Itishree told Dandasena, then headmaster of the school, that she did not have any accommodation.
Dandasena advised her to stay in his house. Although reluctant, she was forced to put up in his house for a night. Dandasena tried to molest her that night and she had resisted. Next day, she left his house and stayed in the school.
Meanwhile, Dandasena got promotion and Chandrasekhar Panda was appointed as headmaster of the school. With permission of Panda, Itishree stayed in the school hostel. This, however, did not deter Dandasena from harassing her. He complained to the DI of Schools that she was allowing youths to enter the girls’ hostel.
Harassed, she approached the Collector for help. After a few days, Dandasena visited the school and took a picture of her. Apprehending trouble, she lodged a police complaint on July 18. Police took no action and next day, Dandasena’s family threatened Itishree who again lodged a complaint with Tikiri police. This complaint too went unheeded.
A similar complaint was filed by Itishree before the State Women Commission on July 30 and she met DGP seeking justice on July 31. On August 5, she complained to Rayagada Collector and SP.
While her appeal was not heeded, she lodged another police complaint on August 16, but was allegedly driven away from the Tikiri police station by the cops.