Bhubneswar: Sambalpur University worker dies of burns, vice-chancellor booked for abetment to suicide
SAMBALPUR: Police on Wednesday booked Sambalpur University (SU) vice-chancellor Sanjiv Mittal for abetment to suicide after contractual employee Dinabandhu Mishra, who set himself on fire in front of the vice-chancellor’s office succumbed to burn injuries on Tuesday night.
Dinabandhu was initially taken to Vimsar, Burla, after he set himself on fire on Tuesday morning. He was later referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, after his condition deteriorated. He died on way to Cuttack.
As news of his death spread, enraged employees staged a demonstration in front of the administrative building with the body of Dinabandhu and demanded Rs 15 lakh compensation for his family and job for the son of the deceased. The agitation was lifted after a meeting between the SP, sub-collector and the university registrar with the employees.
Dinabandhu’s advocate Manoj Mohanty said, “The Orissa high court had given direction to regularise his job in 2017. But the university authorities did not take any step. Later, Dinabandhu filed a contempt petition. On November 18, 2020, the high court again directed the university to settle the issue within two months of receiving the order. However, though there have been four meetings of the university syndicate, Dinabandhu’s job regularisation was not discussed in any of the meetings.”