Jharsuguda Boy Kidnap-Murder: ‘Lawless Odisha A Reality’, Claims Dharmendra; BJD Counters

Bhubaneswar: As both BJP and Congress slammed the Odisha government over the kidnap and murder of a Class X student in Jharsuguda, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday said the incident has exposed the state’s tall claims on rule of law.

“Lawless Odisha is a reality. High-time people in power recognise the fault-lines in the law and order situation in the state,” the senior BJP leader claimed in a twitter post, a day after police recovered semi-burnt body of the boy, Samarth Agarwal, who was allegedly kidnalled for Rs 50 lakh ransom.

Mounting a scathing attack on the BJD government, Dharmendra said murder of young Samarth exactly two months after the broad daylight killing of Minister Nabha Das exposes Odisha government’s tall claims on rule of law.

“Neither citizens nor public representatives are safe in Odisha. Gruesome incidents like these on a regular basis, particularly in Jharsuguda have shocked everyone and weakened the trust of people of Odisha,” the senior BJP leader claimed.

Stating that no amount of empathy will bring solace to young Samarth’s family, Dharmendra said the Odisha government must pull up its socks to ensure rule of law and safety of citizens.

Attacking the BJD government in same vein, Congress leaders also alleged that the kidnap and murder of Samarth for ransom has exposed the true law and order scenario in the state.

Terming 29 as a ‘black day’ for Odisha, senior Congress leader and MLA Santosh Singh Saluja said Minister Naba Kishore Das was murdered two months ago on January 29 and Samarth was also killed on March 29.

“Murder, kidnap and rape cases are on the rise under the BJD rule. People of Jharsuguda will now fear to vote in the by-election scheduled to be held on May 10, Saluja claimed.

Reacting sharply to Dharmendra’s remarks, senior BJD leader and MP Sasmit Patra claimed in a series of tweets that BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have more murder cases than Odisha in 2021.

“@dpradhanbjp Bhai, dont insult the peace-loving people of Odisha by branding them as lawless. Dont insult Odisha for your petty political narrative. Its surprising to see that despite you having been an Hon’ble Union Minister for so long,” Patra tweeted.

“Please dont try to mislead and do politics on sensitive matters of crime. Do you know as per NCRB Report (2021), BJP-ruled states like UP, MP, Maharashtra, Assam & Haryana have more Rape cases than Odisha?” he said.