Bhubaneswar: Expressing deep grief over the murder of a youth in Balianta area on Bhubaneswar outskirts, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday directed the police to conduct a thorough investigation and take stringent action against those responsible.
The Chief Minister held a discussion with Director General of Police (DGP) Y B Khurania regarding the incident and instructed the police to ensure a swift and impartial probe and to take the strictest possible measures against the culprits.
Majhi also stressed the need for enhanced vigilance to prevent recurrence of such mob lynching incidents and directed the police to firmly uphold the rule of law across the state.
So far, the police have arrested four individuals in connection with the incident and the investigation is underway.
CM Majhi also spoke to State Women’s Commission Chairperson Shobhana Mohanty about the incident. Mohanty is set to visit Balianta on Friday to personally interact with
the women who have alleged abuse during the event, in order to ascertain the complete facts and understand all aspects of the case.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state Assembly Naveen Patnaik launched a sharp attack on the state government, describing the incident as ‘extremely barbaric.’
“A youth being beaten to death publicly in Balianta near Bhubaneswar is an extremely barbaric incident. The government’s inexplicable silence even though such a heinous crime has occurred near the state capital is surprising the people of the state,” the BJD president said in a post on X.
The former CM further stated that the killing took place despite the presence of police at the spot: “If such an incident is happening in the presence of the police, then whom will the people ask for security? Why is the police administration and government so helpless before the criminals?”
He also drew attention to similar recent violent episodes in Hinjili, Kanasa, and Dhenkanal, asking what “exemplary action” the government had taken in those cases. “If the government is unable to stop such incidents on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, then the condition of the entire state can be clearly imagined,” he said.
The government should immediately take strict action and ensure the security of the people as well as law and order in the state, Naveen added.