A harrowing incident of suspected family poisoning has left a five-year-old boy orphaned and fighting for his life in Odisha. The child, who witnessed his father's death and his mother's collapse, survived a cold winter night alone in a forest before being rescued.
A Night of Horror in the Forest
The tragedy unfolded in the Deogarh district on Saturday. The family, residents of Jayantpalli village, was embroiled in frequent domestic disputes. Rinki Majhi, 27, had recently left for her parents' home in Jharabeni village with her son.
On Saturday, her husband, Dushmant Majhi, 32, went to persuade them to return. While traveling back, a quarrel erupted again near Dalak village. In a drastic turn, the couple parked their bike, took their child into a nearby forest, and allegedly forced him to consume poison before consuming it themselves.
Child's Solitary Struggle and Rescue
The young boy, identified as Rishi, found himself alone with his unconscious mother and his deceased father. He braved the chilling night in the wilderness. On Sunday morning, he managed to walk about 400 metres to a nearby highway, carrying his mother's purse, to seek help.
Alert passers-by immediately informed the Kundheigola police. A police and forensic team rushed to the spot and discovered three bottles of pesticides. The boy was first taken to a hospital in Angul district. While his father was declared dead on arrival, Rinki and her son were shifted to the Angul district headquarters hospital. Rinki succumbed on Sunday evening.
Investigation and Current Status
The critically ill child was subsequently referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack and later moved to Sishu Bhawan for specialized care. Doctors confirmed he had also been poisoned. Additional SP (Deogarh) Dhiraj Chopdar stated on Monday that the boy's health is now stable.
Police await the post-mortem reports of Dushmant and Rinki Majhi to conclusively determine the cause of death. The authorities have stated they will record the child's statement once he recovers completely. The bodies of the couple have been handed over to their families after autopsy.
This devastating incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting the extreme consequences of unresolved domestic conflict.
