Sambalpur: Keeping up the pressure on the Naveen Patnaik government to dismiss Minister of State for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra over his alleged complicity in the Mamita Meher murder case, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday enforced a 12-hour dawn-to-dusk bandh in Odisha’s Sambalpur district.
The BJP also demanded Rs 50 lakh compensation for the bereaved family.
A 15-member BJP delegation met Mamita’s family at their residence in Jharani village in Balangir district. The delegation led by state BJP president Samir Mohanty met Mamita’s family, expressing grief, offering condolences and discussing the case details.
Balangir MP Sangeeta Singh Deo, senior BJP leader KV Singhdeo, BJP leader and former Odisha DGP Prakash Mishra and party spokesperson Pitambar Acharya were among the delegation.
The BJP also plans to gherao SP offices across Odisha. The party has already observed bandhs in Kalahandi, Balangir and Mayurbhanj districts, demanding a CBI probe into the incident and dismissal of Dibya Shankar Mishra.
Tuesday’s bandh began at 6 am and will end at 6 pm. BJP workers were seen picketing in Kuchinda, Rengali, Redhakhol, Burla, Hirakud and other places in Sambalpur. All shops, markets and government offices are closed in the district.
Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra, Rengali MLA Nauri Nayak and BJP Krushak Morcha state president Pradeep Purohit are leading the bandh. Police have been deployed to maintain law and order.
BJP leaders and activists blocked the road near Ainthapali Chowk on National Highway 53, disrupting traffic between Sambalpur-Jharsuguda, Sambalpur-Bargarh, Sambalpur-Deogarh and Sambalpur-Cuttack.
In the state capital Bhubaneswar on Monday, BJP Mahila Morcha activists staged a silent protest at Master Canteen Square.
The women activists raised questions on the role of the Minister of State for Home in the murder of the Sunshine English Medium School teacher and demanded his immediate dismissal.
Mahila Morcha State Chairperson Smruti Patnaik demanded that the Chief Minister dismiss the tainted minister immediately and order his arrest.
Mamita (26), a teacher at Sunshine English Medium School at Mahaling in Kalahandi district, had gone missing on October 8. Her family members had alleged the involvement of Govind Sahu, president of the school managing committee. Opposition parties have alleged Dibyashankar Mishra was close to Sahu.
Sahu had been detained after an FIR was lodged against him by Mamita’s brother. However, he managed to escape from Titlagarh police barrack on October 17. He was apprehended on October 19.
During interrogation, he revealed that he had murdered Mamita fearing that she might expose his extra-marital affair. Sahu is facing charges of killing Mamita, burning her body and burying the remains in an under-construction stadium on the school campus.
