Bhubaneswar: Rejecting police claim that no one was involved in the incident in which a 15-year-old girl from Puri district died of burn injuries, opposition BJD and Congress stepped up their attack on the Odisha government over the issue.
Following the post-mortem conducted at AIIMS, New Delhi, the girl’s body was being brought to her native village under the jurisdiction of Balanga police station in Puri district.
While the girl’s father and other family members appealed to political parties not to politicise the death, the opposition parties ignored their pleas.
Alleging police inaction and attempts to shield the culprits in the incident, both Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress accused the BJP government of failing to carry out a fair investigation.
Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, senior BJD leaders said the police had floated a new theory soon after the girl’s death by claiming that no one else was involved. This claim is completely unacceptable as it appears the police are trying to shield the real culprits and protect their political masters, the BJD leaders said.
Holding the BJP government responsible for the incident, senior BJD leader Pramila Mallik said no arrest has been made though the incident took place on July 19, which raises serious questions about the role of police.
Since the incident occurred in the constituency of Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, there is growing public suspicion that some of her close associates and BJP workers may be involved, she said, adding that the police have taken no concrete step to bring the perpetrators to justice.
She also questioned the police’s immediate conclusion that no one else was involved, terming the statement premature and damaging to public trust.
BJD leader Tukuni Sahu accused the government of trying to silence the victim’s family by offering Rs 20 lakh compensation instead of pursuing justice.
Attacking the government in same vein, Congress demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, accusing her of interfering with the investigation.
The victim had given her statement four times and was mentally sound. As she was beginning to recover, her sudden death has raised disturbing questions in the minds of people across the state, said state Congress spokesperson Sonali Sahu.
She also questioned why, despite the girl’s multiple statements, the police had failed to identify or apprehend any suspects. “It is unfortunate and unacceptable,” she said.
Accusing the government of using the police to deflect public outrage and politicise the issue, Congress warned that it would not remain silent. The party reiterated its demand for arrests and threatened to gherao the office of the Director-General of Police if no action was taken within seven days.
The incident took place on July 19, when the minor girl sustained severe burn injuries after allegedly being set on fire. Preliminary reports had suggested that three miscreants abducted and set the girl on fire. However, the State police, following an investigation, concluded that no one else was involved in the incident.