The proceedings of Odisha Assembly were today stalled amid four adjournments as members of opposition Congress attacked the government over alleged suicide of an official in Rayagada district and sought a statement from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The issue related to the death of Dhaneswara Prusty, District Welfare Officer (DWO), Rayagada, was raised during Zero Hour by opposition chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati, who demanded a ruling from the Speaker and a statement from the Chief Minister.
Opposition MLAs accused the District Collector and project officer of ITDA (Integrated Tribal Development Agency), of exerting mental pressure on the officer who committed suicide in his office yesterday.
As Speaker Niranjan Pujari denied any ruling on the matter, Congress members rushed to well of the House and raised slogans prompting the Speaker to adjourn the House for four times.
Finally normalcy returned late in the afternoon when Pujari announced he would consider the opposition's demand tomorrow if they submitted a written notice.
"Earlier, one lady teacher was killed as the present district collector of Rayagada did not address her problems. Now the DWO committed suicide out of frustration," Bahinipati said.
Bahinipati, an MLA from Jeypore in Koraput district, also drew the Speaker's attention saying the deceased officer's wife had filed a police complaint against the district collector and project director, ITDA.
Prusty was found hanging from the ceiling of his office computer room yesterday.
Prusty's wife told reporters at Rayagada that she had lodged complaints against the district collector and ITDA project director and that their behaviour was not good towards the deceased.
"He was also under heavy work pressure," she added.
Terming the death of Prusty as a "sad incident", District Collector Shashi Bhushan Padhi said "Pressure is natural for anyone who holds such an important post. After all Rayagada is a big district. After the probe, things will be clear".
