JHARSUGUDA: A 20-year-old youth allegedly attacked the former vice-chancellor of Sambalpur University and environmentalist Dhrub Raj Naik (84) with an axe, leading to his death hours later.
The incident happened in front of the retired professor’s house at Kuanarmal village under Laikera block of Jharsuguda district on Sunday.
Prabin Dharua, nicknamed Rimit (20), has been arrested for the attack.
He belongs to the same village and was angry that the professor did not give him Rs 100 to buy liquor.
On Sunday morning Rimit, armed with an axe, barged into Naik’s home when the professor was not around.
His wife, daughter and son-in-law were present at home.
The accused allegedly demanded money from Naik’s family members.
When the professor returned home, Rimit asked him for Rs 100 and was promptly shown the door.
The accused left and waited outside Naik’s home.
When the retired professor stepped out, Rimit attacked him with an axe.
He hit Naik on the neck.
“The professor was taken to a nearby hospital but he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
We have arrested the accused,” Jharsuguda superintendent of police Bikas Kumar Das said.
Police said Rimit had been harassing Naik for the past few days.
“The professor had given his village pond to a man on lease for fishing.
But Rimit wanted to usurp the pond and had been demanding money from the professor.
The professor kept ignoring him and did not bother to lodge a complaint against Rimit,” another police officer said.
Naik, who was Sambalpur University VC from 1998 to 2001, was an eminent environmentalist and had created a forest in his village.
He was given the Prakruti Mitra Award by the state government for his contribution towards conservation of forest.
He was also involved with different social organizations.