Odisha officials harassing man who carried wife's corpse: Complaint

Bhubaneswar: A complaint has been filed against the District Collector and Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Odisha's Kalahandi for allegedly harassing the tribal man who walked for 10 km with his wife's body on his shoulders after he was denied a hearse.

Human rights activist Subash Mohapatra on Sunday filed a complaint with Bhawanipatna police station against Kalahandi district collector, CDMO and other public authorities alleging that they abused Dana Majhi and his minor daughter.

Mohapatra alleged that the officers forcibly brought Manjhi to Bhawanipatna on Friday to record his statement, preventing him from performing the last rites of his wife.

He said the district collector threatened the tribal and asked him whether he had killed his wife.

"It is unfortunate that instead of helping the tribal man, CDMO of Kalahandi shielded his colleagues and tried to whitewash the evidence by abusing and putting blame on the man that he did not contact anybody for a vehicle to take the body from the hospital to his village," said the complainant.