Tribals Horror in Keonjhar: Man Exhumes Sister’s Skeleton, Carries It to Bank After Officials ‘Demand Her Physical Presence’

Reflecto News | India | Human Interest & Governance

KEONJHAR, Odisha — In a heart-wrenching incident highlighting the stark divide between formal banking regulations and the harsh realities of rural literacy, a tribal man in Odisha’s Keonjhar district exhumed the skeletal remains of his deceased sister and carried them to a bank branch in a desperate attempt to withdraw her savings.

The incident occurred at the Mallipasi branch of Odisha Grameen Bank on Monday, sending shockwaves through the local administration and forcing authorities to intervene to ensure the man received his due amount.

💔 A Brother’s Desperation

The man, identified as Jitu Munda (age reported as 42 or 59 by different sources), is a tribal resident of Dianali village under the Patna block of Keonjhar district. His sister, Kalra Munda (or Kala Munda), passed away on January 26, 2026. She was a widow who had lost her only child and had returned to her parental home before her death.

According to reports, Kalra had deposited approximately Rs 20,000 in her savings account at the Odisha Grameen Bank. Since she had no legal heirs or a nominee, Jitu—her sole surviving relative—approached the bank to withdraw the funds after her death.

🏦 The Banking Labyrinth

The tragedy appears to stem from a breakdown in communication. Having visited the bank multiple times, Jitu claimed that officials told him he could only withdraw the money if “the account holder was present.”

Unable to comprehend the legal requirements for a death certificate and legal heir documentation—being an illiterate tribal man—Jitu took the instructions literally. In a state of frustration, he allegedly went to his sister’s burial site near his home, exhumed her body, placed the skeletal remains in a plastic sack, and carried it to the bank.

“I have run several times to the bank, and the people there told me to bring the account holder to withdraw money deposited in her name. Though I told them that she had died, they did not listen to me and insisted on bringing her to the bank. Therefore, out of frustration, I dug the grave and brought out her skeleton as proof of her death.”
— Jitu Munda

👮 Police and Administration Intervene

When Jitu arrived at the bank with the sack, officials were horrified and immediately alerted the Patna police station. Inspector-in-Charge Kiran Prasad Sahu rushed to the scene. Police officers pacified the man, explaining that he needed a legal heir certificate and a death certificate rather than the physical presence of the deceased.

“Jeetu is an illiterate tribal man. He does not know what the legal heir or nominee is. The bank officials have failed to make him understand the procedure to withdraw money from the dead person’s account.”
— Kiran Prasad Sahu, IIC Patna Police Station

Following police assurance that the documentation would be arranged, Jitu agreed to rebury the remains.

☎️ Political Intervention

The incident gained significant political traction. Odisha Minister Suresh Pujari stepped in, criticizing the bank’s “inhuman approach” and demanding action against the officials responsible for the communication gap.

The Sub-Collector of Keonjhar, Uma Shankar Dalai, also took up the matter, explaining that while the bank was procedurally correct to demand documents (as Jitu is not a Class-I legal heir), the incident highlights the need for empathetic communication in rural banking.

“Prima facie, it appears that since this man is not a class-I legal heir of his sister, the concerned bank rightly asked him for documents which he could not produce,” Dalai said. However, he added that authorities are now assisting with the documentation process and providing interim financial relief.

Sub-Collector Uma Shankar Dalai confirmed that as of Tuesday, April 28, the documentation process was underway. He also stated that the local administration is facilitating the immediate release of Rs 20,000 through Red Cross assistance to alleviate his immediate financial distress.

📢 An Unsatisfying Clarification

Adding to the confusion, the Indian Overseas Bank (sponsor of the regional rural bank) issued a clarification on Tuesday, categorically denying that its officials demanded the physical presence of the deceased.

In a statement on X, the bank claimed that officials had clearly explained the requirement for a death certificate. The bank even suggested that Jitu arrived in an “inebriated condition” and was “unwilling to accept the procedures,” though it admitted it is now coordinating with authorities to issue the death certificate and settle the claim.

Despite the technicalities of banking regulations, the police and local administration have firmly blamed the bank for heartlessly failing to explain the process to an illiterate tribal, emphasizing that the incident could have been avoided with basic empathy and proper guidance.

📋 A Call for Banking Inclusion

The Keonjhar incident is a stark reminder of the administrative failure often faced by India’s tribal and rural populations. It highlights the urgent need for simplified banking protocols for illiterate customers and sensitization of staff to handle the deaths of account holders with compassion.

The skeletal remains have now been buried again under police supervision, and the administration has promised to ensure Jitu Munda receives his money. However, the psychological trauma of a man forced to dig up his own sister to prove her death is a wound that paperwork cannot heal.

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