Family Members Arrested in Odisha After Man Dies in Arson Attack Linked to Land Dispute

Police have arrested three family members in Odisha following the death of Jyotiranjan, who was initially thought to have died by self-immolation. The investigation has now shifted to a murder inquiry. Jyotiranjan, from Saripur village, died at AIIMS Bhubaneswar due to burn injuries sustained in the incident. The Balianta Police Station is handling the case. The victim’s wife, Bijayalaxmi Behera, filed a First Information Report (FIR) that implicated Jyotiranjan’s father, stepmother, and stepbrother in the crime. They are accused of setting him on fire after dousing him with petrol on Friday. The motive is believed to be a protracted family dispute, primarily concerning land ownership. Jyotiranjan received initial medical care at the Aithantar Community Health Centre and Capital Hospital before being admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Preliminary evidence indicates that the incident was a deliberate attempt to kill him over a property dispute. Post-mortem results are awaited to bolster the investigation. The accused include Surendranath Mathia (74), Parvati Mathia (50), and Prashant Kumar Mathia (34). According to Bijayalaxmi, the land dispute began when her father-in-law refused to grant her husband his rightful share of the family property. The investigation has now revealed that the event was a planned attack, not a suicide attempt.