Keonjhar: A 28-year-old AIDS patient allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself after being unable to cope with stigma and alleged discrimination.

"The body of the deceased was found hanging on a roadside tree at a village in Hatadihi block of the district. He was employed in a private company in Puducherry. Last month, he had returned home and was diagnosed with AIDS. Since then, he had been mentally disturbed," said a Hatadihi police station officer.

There are reports of the victim being discriminated and socially ostracised because of the superstition linked to the disease. His family members have lodged a complaint in this regard. The police are investigating to ascertain the veracity of the complaint.

"The administration has taken a serious view of the alleged ill-treatment towards the AIDS patient. A team of counsellors has been sent to the village to sensitise the people. A joint inquiry by officials of the local block, health department and the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre has been ordered into the incident," said additional district medical officer B.B. Bal.

The district, which has been witnessing large-scale inter-state labour migration, accounts for detection of 502 HIV-AIDS cases. Of the infected persons, 23 are minor children below 16-year age group. "Over 90 per cent of HIV carriers diagnosed in the district are migrant workers. This indeed is a disturbing trend," said a health campaigner.