Odisha CM announces Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia for kin of martyred Odia jawan

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh for the bereaved family of Odia jawan Debashis Biswal, who was killed in an attack by the terrorists in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir yesterday.

Patnaik sanctioned the ex-gratia from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, sources said.

The Chief Minister also expressed grief over Biswal’s death.

Notably, five Indian Army soldiers, including Biswal, were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in caught fire due to suspected attack by terrorists yesterday.

Biswal was a resident Khandayat Sahi of Alaguma panchayat near Sakhigopal in Puri district of Odisha.

Debashis is the son of Pratap Biswal and Mamata Biswal. He got married in 2021. Debashis is survived by his wife Sushree Sangeeta and seven-month-old daughter.