A drunk man in Odisha’s Keonjhar district locked his in-laws inside their home and set it on fire while they slept, triggering panic and outrage in the Champua area.
The incident occurred late Tuesday night around 11 pm. Ankur Sadangi, a resident of Shankarapasi, returned to his in-laws’ home in Mangalapur village in an intoxicated state. After arguing over a trivial issue, he went to sleep in a separate room. His wife, two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, and her parents slept in an adjoining unit.
Later, Ankur locked all doors and windows of their room and used a matchstick to ignite the house. He fled the scene immediately. Neighbors noticed smoke and rushed to alert the family, helping them escape before the fire could spread further.
Firefighters arrived and extinguished the flames. The family survived without injuries, but the incident left them shaken. Siba Nayak, the father-in-law, accused Ankur of planning the attack and stealing poultry and belongings before fleeing.
“My son-in-law locked us inside and set the house on fire. We could have died,” said Siba. His daughter echoed the allegations, stating they woke up to smoke and escaped with help from a relative.
Police registered a case based on the family’s complaint and launched an investigation. The Keonjhar house fire has raised concerns over domestic violence and safety in rural households.
Authorities are now searching for Ankur Sadangi, who remains absconding. The community has condemned the act, calling for strict action. The Keonjhar house fire incident highlights the urgent need for awareness and intervention in cases of domestic abuse and alcohol-related violence.
