Jharsuguda: A day after the death of a woman who was critically injured in a road accident involving an SUV near Power House Chhak in Bhubaneswar, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday raised questions over police investigation into the mishap that took place on October 31.
Lopamudra Sahu, who had sustained critical injuries in the accident in Bhubaneswar on October 31, died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Cuttack city on Friday.
She was riding pillion with her relative, a retired CISF jawan Kanhucharan Nayak, when the speeding Range Rover hit their motorcycle and flung the duo into the air. Her relative, who was riding the motorcycle is also battling for his life at the hospital.
Hitting out at the state government over the issue, BJP leader Tankadhar Tripathy sought to know as to who was sitting inside the Range Rover and who is the real actual accused in the case.
The BJP leader said that the police are silent on whether Bishal Das, the son of slain minister Naba Kishore Das and brother of Jharsuguda MLA Dipalis Das was inside the Range Rover when the accident took place.
Stating that several people claimed to have seen Bishal stepping out of the SUV, Tripathy said the police should find out if it is true.
He said the SUV is registered in the name of a company, of which Bishal Kumar Das, son of former Minister late Naba Kishore Das.
The BJP leader further wanted to know as to why the registration number of the luxury vehicle was changed and why no BJD leaders are coming forward and expressing condolences over the mishap.
Noting that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has always been describing the people of Odisha as his family, Tripathy wondered as to why the ruling BJD leaders are silent over the hit-and-run case. None from the ruling party has come forward to express sympathy to the bereaved family, he said.
While police have arrested the driver of the SUV, it is suspected that another person was also travelling in the vehicle since two airbags got busted during the accident.
Bishal is yet to react to these reports.
The role of police has also come under scanner in this case and they are being accused of protecting the culprits by allegedly changing the registration number of the SVU, involved in the accident. The initial release from the Bhubaneswar DCP office mentioned the registration number of the vehicle as OD-33-AF-6726, which was rectified after 2 and a half hours.
Lopamudra’s brother had earlier told the media that they had sold ornaments and other valuables to meet her medical expenses. “The Commissionerate Police had initially issued one registration number of vehicle and now it has been changed. We do not know whether they are late minister’s family or anyone else, we want justice.”
