Sarpanch Election Countermanded After Death Of Candidate In Odisha’s Cuttack
Cuttack: In a tragic incident, a woman sarpanch candidate of Jasapada panchayat under Cuttack Sadar block died last night, hours before the commencement of the first phase of the panchayat polls in Odisha.
The deceased was identified as Namita Behera (32).
According to reports, she went to sleep after having a discussion with her supporters. Around 1.30 am, her husband Saroj Behera knocked the door of her room but there was no response from inside.
Suspecting foul play, he broke open the door and found his wife lying in an unconscious state. As several attempts to awake her went in vain, she was taken in an ambulance to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
The woman was declared dead at the hospital by a doctor. A pall of gloom descended on Jasapada panchayat after the demise of Namita.
Election to the sarpanch post was countermanded after the incident. However, polling for other posts continued as per the schedule.
