VIZIANAGARAM: Unable to find an ambulance in Pottangi block of Koraput district in Odisha, two persons were forced to carry a man’s body on a bike for around 35 kms from Pottangi to Yeguva Ganjaibadra, one of the 21 villages of disputed Kotia cluster, which both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha claim to be their own.
Though the incident took place on Thursday evening, it came to light on Friday after a video of the body being carried on a bike surfaced.
As per the reports, 25-year-old Gemmeli Viswanath, a native of Yeguva Ganjaibadra village (disputed Kotia cluster) under Saluru mandal of Parvathipuram Manyam district visited Tahsildar office to obtain caste certificate on Wednesday.
It may be recalled that people living in the Kotia cluster of villages have two names and they obtain identity cards, ration cards and caste certificates from Andhra Pradesh government as well as Odisha government. They have been enjoying the benefits through welfare schemes introduced by Andhra Pradesh as well as Odisha.
Viswanath also visited few other villages in Pottangi block on Wednesday. While he was returning on his bike to his native place, his bike was hit by a goods-carrier near Kundili in Odisha. Viswanath lost his final breath on Wednesday. The Pottangi police have registered a case and a medical team of the Primary Health Centre, Pottangi conducted a post-mortem on the body on Thursday.
Speaking to TOI, P Bishu, a native of Kotia cluster said that they have requested the authorities of Pottangi police and PHC to provide an ambulance to shift the body to Yeguva Ganjaibadra. However, the authorities claimed no availability of the ambulance at that time. Though we asked some private vehicles (auto-rickshaws and others) to shift the body, they refused, saying rules do not permit them to shift the body. As an ambulance was not available and no other vehicle came forward, the man’s relatives took the body home on bike despite the bad weather, Bishu added.
On Thursday night, Odisha police came to Kotia cluster and took two persons Pangi Dinodu and Gemmeli Lio into their custody citing that the dead body was shifted on bike. We have protested in front of Pottangi police station on Friday demanding the release of our people, Bishu added.
The Saluru police also confirmed that the body was carried on a bike from Pottangi to Kotia cluster. However, they said that the incident (fatal accident) took place in Odisha, their role is nominal in the incident.
The locals said that Kotia clusters of villages have proper road connectivity, but the medical and health services were not extended to the villages. The locals asked both the governments to provide ambulance services to the Kotia cluster of villages to prevent such incidents.
