Tough action against those guilty in Majhi incident: Patnaik

Bengaluru, Aug 26 (PTI) Odisha Chief Minister NaveenPatnaik today described as "distressing" the incident of atribal man forced to walk 10 km with his wife’s body on hisshoulder as he was allegedly denied a hearse and saidstringent action would be taken against the guilty. "It is very distressing, we have ordered an inquiry andstringent action will be taken against those who areresponsible," he said on the sidelines of Odisha Investors’Meet 2016 here. Patnaik said the Odisha government has launched the’Mahaparayana’ scheme for free transportation of bodies fromgovernment hospitals to the residences of the deceased. On whether any action has been taken in connection withthe incident, the Chief Minister said, "Let the inquiryproduce its result." Dana Majhi’s wife Amang Dei (42) died of tuberculosis onTuesday night at the district headquarters hospital inBhawanipatna of Odisha’s Kalahandi district. Majhi had alleged that despite his efforts, he could notget any help from hospital authorities. On Wednesday, he wrapped his wife’s body in a cloth andstarted walking to his village Melghara, which is about 60 kmfrom Bhawanipatna, along with his 12-year-old daughter tillsome local reporters spotted the duo. They called up the District Collector and arranged for anambulance for transportation of the body, but by then the manhad walked around 10 km. PTI KSU RA BNNSD