‘Jagannath Bharasa’: Dharmendra Pradhan Corners Govt Over ‘Lawlessness’ In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday lashed out at the Odisha government over apparent lawlessness in the state which saw a policeman pulling the trigger on Health Minister Naba Das in broad daylight.

“How would you explain a cop using his service revolver to shoot a cabinet minister from close range?” he asked.

While raising questions on the transparency in the ongoing investigation, Dharmendra also called the Odisha DGP Sunil Bansal’s statement that no one, barring Lord Jagannath, could anticipate such an incident, as unfortunate. “While the CM, who holds the Home portfolio, has remained mum over the incident, the DGP is trying to shrug off his responsibility in the name of Lord Jagannath. This tells a lot about the law and order situation in the state,” he said.

The Union Minister said that the government does not seem serious about the investigation, which he alleged is being conducted on a preconceived line, and therefore, the case should be handed over to an independent agency.

The Union Minister also questioned the appointment of a retired judge to monitor the Crime Branch probe. “He has not been appointed under the Commission Act. Instead, the state government wrote to the HC registrar and a retired judge was given the charge. But we know nothing about the power given to him,” he said.

Expressing concern over the attack on sub-collector by sand mafias in Balasore, Dharmendra said that some incidents in the recent past clearly indicate that the law enforcement agency is not doing its work.

He further referred to Kulamani Barala and Anand Tappo murder cases, where FIR was registered only after the Orissa High Court intervened. “Only two days ago, a BJD MLA was booked only after HC issued an order on the plea filed by the woman complainant,” he added.