Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has called for Puri Bandh on August 7 to protest against the alleged failure of the Mohan Majhi’s government to ensure justice for a 15-year-old burn victim from Balanga, who succumbed at AIIMS-Delhi on August 2 evening.
Addressing a presser, Puri district BJD president Umakanta Samantaray said that the bandh will be observed from 6 am to 12 noon across the district. “The death of the minor girl from Balanga is shrouded in mystery. The police have failed to provide any clarity on what led to the horrific attack even though 15 days have passed since the incident,” said Samantaray, accusing the administration of deliberate inaction.
He claimed that the victim in her first statement to police in presence of doctors at AIIMS-Delhi had confirmed that three men in two motorcycles gagged her with a handkerchief and abducted her on a bike to the banks of Bhargavi river. “She had become unconscious and raised an alarm when she regained consciousness after being set ablaze. The Deputy Chief Minister, Pravati Parida, had herself told the media that her condition was improving and she will recover soon. But two days later, it was declared that she had died, which raises suspicion,” he said.
The BJD leader also accused the government of shielding the culprits while pointing at the changed statement of the victim’s father. “The government is hiding the truth. It seems the father of the deceased girl was pressurised to change his statement. He had earlier demanded strict action against the culprits. This raises serious questions,” he said.
He added that the BJD will continue its protests until the truth is revealed and justice is served.
Initially, three men were believed to have abducted the girl while she was on her way to a relative’s place and set her on fire near the Bhargabi riverbank on July 19. Even the girl’s mother lodged an FIR alleging the same.
She was admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar with 75% burn injuries on July 19 and airlifted to AIIMS Delhi a day later. She, however, succumbed after a 14-day battle for life.
Hours after the teenager’s death, police claimed that no other person was involved in the incident and the victim’s father also released a video, claiming she ended her life due to mental distress. These statements fuelled a fresh political tussle with the Opposition accusing the government of shielding the culprits.
On Sunday, Opposition chief whip Pramila Mallik along with BJD spokespersons Tukuni Sahu and Lekhashree Samantasinghar questioned the sudden emergence of the suicide theory in the case.
Samantasinghar claimed the husband of local MLA and Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida visited the victim’s home soon after the incident and prevented outsiders from meeting the family. “Following the girl’s death, the victim’s father made a shocking revelation. With the victim no longer alive to share the truth, the police’s suicide theory is completely unacceptable,” she said demanding immediate resignation of the Deputy Chief Minister.
The Congress also demanded the resignation of Parida over the issue.
On the other hand, Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo slammed the Opposition for politicising the sensitive matter. “The state government had taken all necessary steps in this case and the victim was also sent to AIIMS-New Delhi. But her life could not be saved despite the best of treatment,” he said.
