DNA test confirms identity of ‘Dilip’ who died in Hi-Tech Hospital fire mishap

Bhubaneswar: Amid an identity mess-up of the Hi-Tech Hospital tragedy victims, a DNA report today confirmed the identity of the third deceased victim as ‘Dilip Samantray’, the Additional DCP (ADCP) of Commissionerate Police-Bhubaneswar Prakash Chandra Pal informed mediapersons.

As the DNA report has arrived, the body of Dilip will now be handed over to his family, the ADCP said.

Meanwhile, the bereaved family of Dilip took a stern stand and refused to receive his mortal remains as an FIR earlier lodged by the victim’s mother Ahalya Samantray has not been registered yet.

“We were told by Mancheswar police that they will initiate an investigation after when we lodge an FIR. Accordingly, the deceased’s mother lodged an FIR by giving her thumb impression around five days ago, which has not been registered. We will not withdraw the Dharna (sit-in) unless and until a copy of our FIR is provided to us,” a woman relative of Dilip expressed when asked by mediapersons.

“We were instead provided another FIR copy with signatures of several others, to which we objected. A thumb impression put therein against the name of Ahalya Samantray is not her own and it has been manipulated. Police have been compelling us to accept it saying that the thumb impression is that of the elderly woman. The copy given to us has signatures of the AC compressor mechanics, cleaning workers and trade union members of the hospital, and Harirajpur villagers,” the woman stated.

“It seems that police have been managed by High-Tech Hospital owner Tirupati Panigrahi for which no case was registered based on our FIR,” the deceased’s relative alleged.