KEONJHAR: Jitu Munda of Dianali village under Patna block in Kendujhar district, who had exhumed his sister Kala Munda’s skeletal remains to prove her death and withdraw her bank deposits, on Wednesday underwent a community-mandated purification ritual, allowing him to rejoin his caste group. This is the second time Jitu has performed such a ritual for his sister, followed by a feast for community members. Jitu had earlier dug up the burial site and taken the skeletal remains to the Malliposi branch of Odisha Grameen Bank as proof of death to access Rs 19,402 deposited in her account. After the visit, he carried the remains back on foot and reburied them at the same place. The incident drew widespread attention across the country and abroad. Following this, local authorities expedited issuance of the death and legal heir certificates within a day, while bank officials handed over the due amount to Jitu. He also received assistance from various organisations. However, a community meeting on May 3 had asked him to undergo purification, failing which he would not have been allowed to mingle with other members. As per local customs, Jitu offered a cock and a goat in sacrifice to the village deity. On Wednesday morning, he took a ritual bath in the village pond, after which family members sprinkled turmeric water on him as part of the purification process. The ritual culminated in a community feast, after which he was accepted back into the caste fold. State forest and environment minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia visited Jitu on Wednesday, inquired about the incident and expressed condolences. On behalf of the minister, clothes were distributed among members of Jitu’s community along with Rs 50,000 in cash assistance. “It is a very unfortunate incident. We will examine why such situations arise. Jitu has become pure as per community custom. We hope such incidents do not recur,” the minister said. On April 27, Jitu had approached the bank with the skeletal remains of his sister, who had died three months earlier, as proof of death to withdraw the money. Bank officials informed the local police, following which he took the remains back to the village, about 3 km away, and reburied them.
