BERHAMPUR: After battling for life for a week, Odisha Motor Vehicles Department (OMVD) constable Ashutosh Mrudungia, who was allegedly ser afire by his wife and brother-in-law, succumbed to burn injuries at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar on Friday.
The 31-year-old constable had sustained nearly 80 per cent burn injuries in the incident that occurred on June 5 near his wife’s government quarters in police colony near Bijipur chowk under Berhampur Town police limits. He was undergoing treatment in the burn ward of AIIMS since then.
In his statement before the police, Ashutosh had alleged that his constable wife Sandhya Nayak and her brother Dibas Nayak had set him ablaze. He claimed that he had gone to his wife’s quarters when the duo reportedly poured petrol on him. When he was attempting to flee, Dibas ignited a matchstick, leading to the fire.
Police said Ashutosh was seen running down the staircase engulfed in flames before entering the residence of a havildar in a desperate attempt to save himself. The havildar also sustained burn injuries while trying to rescue the constable.
Based on a complaint lodged by Ashutosh’s sister, police registered a case against Sandhya and Dibas. During investigation, police recorded statements of the victim, the accused and eyewitnesses. A scientific team seized a plastic bottle and a matchbox from the scene, while mobile phones belonging to the victim, Sandhya and Dibas were sent for forensic examination.
Investigation revealed that the couple was experiencing marital discord. On May 18, Sandhya had lodged a domestic assault complaint against Ashutosh, leading to his arrest. He was granted bail on June 2, just three days before he was allegedly set afire.
Ashutosh’s family expressed strong dissatisfaction with Berhampur police, alleging that no action had been taken against Sandhya and Dibas Nayak despite their complaint. The family demanded a CBI probe into the incident and further alleged that Sandhya did not visit the hospital even once during Ashutosh’s treatment.
However, Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M said police are carrying out investigation impartially. Two cases, one registered at Mahila police station based on Sandhya’s complaint and the other in Berhampur Town police station based on the complaint of Ashutosh’s mother, are currently under investigation.
The SP said CCTV footage from the police colony has been collected and sent for analysis. Other materials seized from the crime scene are also being examined. He added that the incident occurred in a locality comprising only four houses and statements of all residents have been recorded as part of the investigation.