Keonjhar, April 30: While a nation-wide outrage has spread over a tribal man’s crucial move to an Odisha-based Bank with the skeletal remains of his daughter for settlement of a meagre amount of death claim, RDC probe into it has found sheer non-cooperation of the concerned financial institution.
Though the details of the probe are yet to be furnished and submitted at the CMO, the primary findings of Northern Range RDC Sangram Keshari Mohapatra, have gone against the Odisha Gramya Bank, Mallipasi Branch authorities indicating damn negligence of the officials, to the lawful legal heir.
According to the RDC, the Bank officials had never co-operated Jitu Munda, an ignorant elderly person of the Dianali village under the Patna Block limit in Keonjhar in paying out his legitmate claim. Despite his frequent visit to the bank and earnest submission to the concerned officials following the death of his elder sister Kalara Munda, he was demoralized to get the payout.
For the last time on Monday, Jitu Munda moved the Branch Manager seeking his assistance who also failed to serve out of solidarity. Ultimately, the layman exhumed his sister’s skeletal remains, carried them on his shoulder and stepped into the bank, to prove that his sister was really no more & solidfy his legitimate claim, the RDC added.
An RDC-level probe has begun into the shocking incident in which a man brought his sister’s skeletal remains to a bank to withdraw her deposited money. Northern RDC Sangram Keshari Mohapatra visited Dianali village under Patna block and conducted an on-ground inquiry.
Accompanied by Keonjhar Collector Vishal Singh, Sub-Collector Umashankar Dalai and Special Land Acquisition Officer Rabindra Pradhan, the RDC questioned Jitu Munda to ascertain the circumstances that led him to approach the Odisha Gramya Bank with his deceased sister’s skeleton. Officials also sought details on what the bank staff had told him when he tried to withdraw the money.
Earlier, the investigation team visited the bank branch and questioned the manager and other employees. Meanwhile, a Congress delegation led by former PCC president Niranjan Patnaik also met Jitu Munda and discussed the incident with him.
The incident, which triggered widespread outrage, occurred on Monday in front of the Odisha Gramya Bank at Mallipasi, where Jitu Munda sat with the skeletal remains of his elder sister Kalara Munda (50), demanding release of her savings. Following media coverage, the bank released ₹19,400 from the deceased’s account within 24 hours. The district administration also extended ₹30,000 assistance from the Red Cross fund on the direction of the Chief Minister.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had ordered an RDC-level inquiry, directing officials to investigate the reasons behind the incident and ensure such occurrences are not repeated. The probe, which began on Wednesday, is currently underway with officials examining all aspects of the case.
