Puri: Normal life in Odisha’s Puri district was partially hit on Thursday by a six-hour hartal called by the Opposition BJD, demanding justice for a 15-year-old girl who died of burn injuries at AIIMS Delhi on August 2.
Holding placards, banners and blowing conch shells (BJD’s party symbol), the bandh supporters urged shopkeepers to down shutters of their business establishments. Road blockades were also staged at Pipili Toll Plaza, Uttara Square, Mangalpur Market, and Satashankha Market by burning tyres during the bandh, observed from 6 am to 12 noon.
Protestors led by former MLA Rudra Pratap Maharathy also blocked National Highway-316 and local markets in Pipili amid sloganeering against the police investigation in the case. They also called upon people to raise their voices against “rising crime against women” in the state.
Major roads, especially in Puri town, wore a deserted look.
The girl’s mother had initially alleged that three unidentified individuals abducted her daughter and set her on fire near the Bhargavi riverbank on July 19. Hours after the girl’s death, police, however, claimed that no one was involved in the incident. The victim’s father also in a video message said that she took her own life due to mental stress and requested political parties not to politicise the issue.
BJD and Congress, however, have questioned the police’s claim. BJD MLA from Puri Umakanta Samantray alleged the family was pressured to change their version, citing contradictions between the mother’s FIR and the father’s statement. “We organised the bandh not to cause inconvenience to people but raise awareness as 15 women and girls are being raped in Odisha every day and the BJP government is still in slumber,” he said.
Mohanty claims that the private vehicles with devotees heading towards Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri were allowed to ply the roads, and essential services remained unaffected.
The BJD announced that it would intensify the agitation across the state. The party has also demanded the resignation of deputy chief minister Pravati Parida over the issue.
(With inputs from PTI)