A youth sustained critical burn injuries after allegedly attempting self-immolation in the Banki area of Cuttack district on Sunday night. The incident occurred in the Ostia area under the jurisdiction of Banki police. The injured has been identified as Amiya Singh, who suffered severe burns over a large part of his body and was rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital for emergency treatment. His condition is reported to be serious.
According to allegations made by his family, Amiya had been under prolonged mental distress due to employment-related issues following the death of his father. The family claimed that his father was employed with the Jobra Ground Water Department and that Amiya had hoped to secure a job on compassionate grounds. However, despite completing his education up to the +3 level, he remained unemployed even seven years after his father’s death, which allegedly affected his mental health.
However, Amiya has reportedly given a different version of events to authorities. Despite sustaining burn injuries to nearly 90 per cent of his body, he denied the family’s claims and alleged that a woman named Mona had been blackmailing him, causing severe mental stress. He stated that this alleged harassment led him to take the extreme step and clarified that no one else was directly involved.
Police have acknowledged the conflicting statements and said that an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances that led to the incident. No official statement has yet been issued by police or hospital authorities. Further details are awaited as the probe continues.
