Orissa IAS officer ends life,family blames transfers

Around 4.30 pm,eyewitnesses saw him jumping on the tracks in front of the Howrah-Puri passenger train. He died on the spot. Deputy SP of Government Railway Police Sk Abdul Karim said it was a clear case of suicide.

Friends and colleagues were shocked by Swain’s death. His private secretary Pradip Rout said,“He did not seem tense. After coming to office,he had distributed the invitation cards of his son’s marriage. We had no idea what was going in his mind,” he said.

Although the reasons behind Swain’s death is yet to be ascertained,his wife said he appeared to be worried with frequent transfers. “Something in office was surely bothering him. He appeared to be perturbed by the transfers,” said Namita Swain.

From being director of textiles and handlooms,Swain,who was to retire next year,was transferred to planning and coordination department as additional secretary a month ago. Soon after,he was transferred to Orissa Small Industries Corporation as managing director. However,Planning and Coordination Minister Maheswar Mohanty said Swain’s transfer had been cancelled at his request.