Devotee ends life in temple after failing to invoke God’s blessings

Rajashree DashJajpur, Dec 16: A 30 year-old-youth and native of neighbouring Kendrapara district committed suicide after apparently after failing to invoke the blessings of the God to cure his chronic abdominal pain.The deceased, identified as Sridhar Malik of Jamira village under Nikirai police station limits committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling of the arch of a Shiv temple near Sukinda police station in the district late last night.Malik was suffering from chronic stomach ailment for which he had been experiencing excruciating pain.His family had checked his disease with many doctors and took medicines but in vain.Being desperate, Malik had left home since last two months and taken shelter under the dignity of lord Shiva in Sukinda, family sources said.“After he took shelter under the dignity of lord Shiva here, he had informed that he was seeking the divine blessing for his cure.But, unfortunately we got the sad news today that he is dead.We came to the spot and saw he was hanging from the ceiling of the ceiling in front of the God,” said father of the deceased Pahali Malik.“Let the police investigate into the incident and come to the conclusion,” he said.Being informed by the priest of the temple this morning, police rushed to the spot and found Malik hanging from the ceiling of the arch of the temple.“Our first hand investigation reveals that the deceased was married and he was here in the temple for the last one-and-a-half month seeking the divine blessing for his cure.During his stay here, he was only taking bhog of the temple and water,” said Sudipta Kumar Sahu, Inspector-in-Charge of Sukinda police station.Police seized the body and sent it to the Community health centre at Danagadi for post mortem.“We believe it was a case of suicide, still we are waiting for post mortem report to reach a conclusion,” said the police.