Man carries sister’s skeleton to bank for Rs 19,300 balance

KATHMANDU: A man in Odisha’s Keonjhar district reportedly carried his deceased sister’s remains for nearly three kilometres in extreme heat to a bank branch, in a desperate attempt to access her savings of INR 19,300.

The man, identified as Jitu Munda of Dianali village, had gone to Odisha Gramin Bank in Mallipasi to withdraw the money left in his late sister Kakra Munda’s account.

According to local accounts, Kakra had passed away around two months ago, after having already lost her husband and only child, leaving Jitu as her sole surviving relative.

At the bank, officials reportedly informed him that the account could only be accessed either by the account holder’s presence or through proper legal heir documentation.

Jitu, who is said to have limited formal education, allegedly lacked both a death certificate and succession papers and struggled to navigate the procedural requirements.

Unable to find a way forward, he returned to his village.

On Monday, he went to the cremation ground, retrieved his sister’s remains, and carried them back towards the bank, walking several kilometres under harsh sun conditions.

His arrival at the bank caused shock among those present.

The scene triggered strong reactions from locals, with some expressing grief and others anger over what they described as a lack of compassion.

Villagers questioned whether administrative procedures should override humanitarian considerations, especially for economically vulnerable individuals.

They also suggested that verification through local authorities such as the village head or a field inquiry could have been possible, rather than insisting strictly on documentation.

Following the incident, police intervened after being informed.

They calmed Jitu and took control of the situation, stating that the matter would be reviewed on humanitarian grounds and that they had sought clarification from the concerned bank authorities.