Bhubaneswar: Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, has written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressing “deep anguish” over an alleged inhuman incident involving a tribal man in Keonjhar district.

Tribal man’s ordeal sparks outrage across Odisha

In his letter, Patnaik highlighted a case from April 27 at a branch of Odisha Gramya Bank in Malliposi, where a tribal man, Jitu Munda, was allegedly forced to exhume and carry the skeletal remains of his deceased sister to the bank as proof of her death to access his dues.

According to the letter, Munda had made several visits to the bank but failed to receive assistance or clarity from officials. The situation escalated when he was reportedly asked to produce physical proof, leading to the shocking act.

Patnaik criticised the bank’s reported justification of the incident as adherence to Reserve Bank of India guidelines, calling it a “disturbing intent” to hide behind procedures while neglecting basic human dignity.

“Rules are meant to empower citizens, not humiliate them,” Patnaik stated, urging immediate accountability for those responsible. He stressed that such incidents highlight the urgent need for more humane and citizen-centric banking services, particularly in remote tribal areas.

The former Chief Minister also noted that the incident has sparked widespread outrage across Odisha and drawn international attention, with coverage by global media outlets.

He appealed to the Union Finance Minister to intervene and ensure strict action, expressing hope that such treatment of citizens would not be repeated anywhere in the country.