Tension gripped the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Malkangiri after another undertrial prisoner was declared dead, prompting relatives to protest on the premises and later take the body toward the sub-jail.
The deceased has been identified as Loknath Behera of Kalaguda village in Malkangiri. He was lodged in Malkangiri jail as an undertrial prisoner in a pending criminal case. Family members say he had spoken to them as usual in the morning and did not complain of any illness. By evening, jail authorities informed them that his condition had worsened and that he was being shifted to the DHH. Relatives reached the hospital only to find him already declared dead.
Anger spread among family members and co-villagers, who raised questions over the cause of death and created a stir outside the DHH. Police arrived to restore order but initially failed to contain the unrest. Relatives then carried the body and set out toward the Malkangiri sub-jail. After talks and persuasion by police, the body was sent to Koraput. Officials said the exact facts would emerge after investigation.
The incident has renewed concern in the town, coming days after another prisoner’s death linked to Malkangiri jail. The cause of Behera’s death has not been officially established.
