Bhubaneswar, June 26: Tension gripped Mancheswar Industrial area today following the death of a pipe manufacturing company worker last night.

Twenty-two-year-old Ranjit Kumar Pal slipped from the roof of a factory while fixing a skylight last evening. He was rushed to Capital Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Relatives and friends of the deceased today gathered in front of the company’s gate carrying his body and held a demonstration demanding compensation. The police got the information of Ranjit’s death in the hospital yesterday and seized the body from there. They said that while Ranjit was trying to fix a skylight the asbestos roof gave in and he fell on the ground.

“We have registered a case of unnatural death and sent the body for postmortem,” said a police officer. The family members of Ranjit said that they were informed by the company about the accident.

“Before we reached the hospital, he had been declared dead,” said Bijay Pal, the uncle of Ranjit, adding that when they reached the hospital no higher officials of the company were present there. Only some co-workers of Ranjit were present at the hospital, but they could not explain how the accident took place.

After the news of Ranjit’s death spread, his relatives and friends from Balipatna gathered near the postmortem room of the Capital Hospital today.

They alleged that the company authorities, instead of declaring a compensation package, had sought to distance themselves from the entire episode.

Placing Ranjit’s body in front of the company gate, his family members protested in the afternoon, following which the police rushed to the spot. The family members and relatives demanded proper investigation into the incident and due compensation.

The protesting family members said the company authorities had been forcing them to cremate the body and then discuss the compensation package. The police said they had been trying to convince the agitating family members. “Besides, we have told both the sides to sit and discuss the matter,” said a police officer, adding that they were investigating into the matter.

Janaki Balav Mohapatra, the supervisor of the company, said that Ranjit had been performing multiple duties. “Yesterday, while he was working on the rooftop, he fell on the ground and suffered severe injuries. We even rushed him to the hospital in the managing director’s car, but he died there,” he said.

The company authorities refused to comment on this matter.