BERHAMPUR:Ostracised, three families of Buxipalli under Rangeilunda block of Ganjam district are leading a miserable life for the last seven months with even the district administration and police doing little to help them.
The victims are P Debaraj, P Gangadhar and A Krishna Rao, who along with their family members, had attended a social function of a candidate following the panchayat election in February. Apparently, a majority of villagers of Buxipalli were against the candidate and had opposed his candidature in the election. They had also asked the three families not to interact with the candidate.
Despite their opposition, Debaraj, Gangadhar and Rao maintained relationship with him and this did not go down well with the villagers.Following their return from the function, Debaraj, Gangadhar and Rao were asked by villagers to attend a kangaroo court where a fine of `20,000 was imposed on each of them. When the three expressed their inability to pay, they were ostracised. The villagers also announced that anyone found interacting or helping the three families will have to pay a fine of `5,000. Since then, 17 members of the three families are leading a pathetic life. Although they had submitted written complaints with Gopalpur Police and local MLA Pradeep Panigrahy, none has paid heed.
They are neither allowed to use the community well for collecting water nor purchase grocery items from the village shops. Harassed, the families have now decided to shift elsewhere. Meanwhile, Ganjam Collector Prem Chandra Choudhury had called for an inquiry into the matter.
5 more dengue positive cases in Ganjam
Berhampur: At least five more dengue patients have been admitted to special dengue ward of MKCG MCH here in the last 36 hours. With this, the total number of dengue affected persons in Ganjam district has gone up to 50. This year, dengue has claimed two lives so far. Sources said the number of affected patients must be high as many are undergoing treatment in private hospitals in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. The five new patients belong to Gosaninuagaon in the city and Rambha, Chikiti and Khallikote areas. They have contracted the disease while working in Kerala, Hyderabad and Mumbai.