Dhenkanal: A contractual employee of the District Planning & Statistics Office here was found dead in his official quarters in Dhenkanal town Friday. The deceased has been identified as Suryakant Swain, a resident of Patharakhamba village under Parjang police limits.
The deceased’s wife alleged that her husband took the extreme step as he had been under severe mental stress since losing his job due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Suryakant had been working as an outsourced employee at the District Planning & Statistics Office since 2006-7. He was given the job after his father’s demise. Unfortunately, his agreement was not renewed in March due to the COVID-19 outbreak. As a result, he lost his job. However, he was still living in the official quarters.
Suryakant was alone when he decided to take the extreme step. His wife and children had gone to her parents’ house.
The deceased’s wife said her husband had forced her to visit her parents as she was not keeping well. “I called him Thursday morning, but his phone was switched off. I again tried at night and still it was still in the same mode. I asked my neighbours to go and check on my husband. They informed me that the door was shut from inside. My brother-in-law also told the same thing,” said Suryakant’s wife.
The neighbours then informed the police. The police broke the door open only to find Suryakant’s lifeless body hanging from a window. Police brought the body down and sent it to the hospital for post-mortem.
However, the police have found it surprising that Suryakant’s body was hanging from a window. Even though his wife has said that Suryakant committed suicide, police are investigating the cause of death.
PNN