Jajpur 04/09(PPT): A newly recruited Home Guard trainee died after allegedly drowning in a pond on the premises of the Jajpur Superintendent of Police’s office at Panikoili on Friday.
The deceased was identified as Rakesh Kumar Jena, a resident of Ranagundi village under Kalinganagar police station in Danagadi block of Jajpur district.
According to sources, Jena was staying at the Home Guard training camp at the Reserve Lines and undergoing training. As Friday was a holiday on account of Janmashtami, he reportedly went to a pond within the Reserve Lines premises to wash himself.
Jena was accompanied by two to three fellow trainee Home Guards when the incident occurred. He allegedly slipped near the pond, lost his balance and fell into deep water. His colleagues reportedly attempted to rescue him but were unable to save him.
“We received information that a trainee Home Guard had drowned in the pond at the Reserve Lines. We rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. We recovered him and took him to the nearest hospital, where doctors declared him dead,” Mantri said.
Panikoili police station Inspector-in-Charge Purna Chandra Pattayat said two to three trainee Home Guards had gone near the pond to wash their hands and feet when Jena slipped and drowned.
“There was no official training activity at the pond today. His colleagues tried to save him but could not rescue him. We were informed about the incident at around 11.30 am,” Pattayat said.
Fire Services personnel from Jajpur Road, Kuakhia, Panikoili and Rasulpur, along with Panikoili police, recovered the body and sent it to the Jajpur District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Police have launched an investigation to ascertain the exact circumstances leading to the trainee Home Guard’s death.