Youth taken into custody for self immolation bid

Kendrapada, Dec 19 (UNI) Police today arrested a 32-year old man for trying to immolate himself by pouring kerosene in front of Orissa Agro Industrial Corporation office at Salepur to protest denial of loan to his father.

Kunja Behari Behera, son of Jogi Behera, a resident of Jairampur about 35 km from here, tried to self-immolate but he was overpowered by the policemen.

Orissa Agro-Industrial Corporation Salepur branch manager Biranchi Mishra said the office had earlier decided to provide loan to the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled caste people under a special scheme. However, the scheme was later closed following allegation that the candidates had produced fake documents to get the loan.

Even the beneficiaries had submitted documents of dead people to get the loan, sanctioned, he alleged.

Kunja Behera's father Jogi Behera had also applied loan under the said scheme but he was denied the loan after an inquiry found that he had produced fake documents, he said.

UNI XC DP PC SK KP2233