Bhubaneswar: Alleging that a woman party worker and social activist was brutally assaulted in Jagatsinghpur district, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday demanded strict legal action against those involved in the attack.
In a memorandum submitted to Director General of Police (DGP) Y B Khurania, the opposition party claimed that Rashmi Parija was brutally attacked on Monday night.
Claiming that a group of individuals allegedly forced their way into Parija’s house, BJD said the miscreants used abusive language, and physically attacked her. She was reportedly dragged by her hair and beaten with a wooden stick, suffering serious head injuries and being admitted to Jagatsinghpur District Headquarters Hospital.
The BJD stated that Parija had earlier filed multiple complaints citing threats to her life due to her work as a social-media activist, yet no preventive action was taken by local authorities.
Terming the attack as a shocking reflection of intolerance and failure of local policing, BJD urged the DGP to conduct an immediate, impartial investigation; arrest all accused and ensure stringent legal action; provide police protection to Parija and her family.
Meanwhile, BJD president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik strongly condemned the ‘organised and deadly attack’ on Rashmi Parija, a BJD worker in Jagatsinghpur.
In a post on X, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Odisha Assembly claimed that the incident showed an alarming rise in violence against women and deteriorating law and order situation under the current BJP government.
“I strongly condemn the organised and murderous attack on Rashmi Parija, a worker of the Biju Janata Dal, in Jagatsinghpur. Such incidents of increasing violence against women are absolutely unacceptable,” Naveen said, seeking strict action against the culprits and maintain public trust in the legal system.
ଜଗତସିଂହପୁରରେ ବିଜୁ ଜନତା ଦଳର କର୍ମୀ ରଶ୍ମି ପରିଜାଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ହୋଇଥିବା ସଂଘବଦ୍ଧ ମରଣାନ୍ତକ ଆକ୍ରମଣକୁ ଦୃଢ଼ ନିନ୍ଦା କରୁଛି। ମହିଳାଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ବଢ଼ୁଥିବା ଏପରି ଘଟଣା କଦାପି ଗ୍ରହଣୀୟ ନୁହେଁ।
ଶାନ୍ତିପ୍ରିୟ ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ଅଶାନ୍ତିର ଏ ବାତାବରଣ ଜନମାନସକୁ ଆତଙ୍କିତ କରୁଛି। ଅସାମାଜିକ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ଅପରାଧ ଘଟାଇବାକୁ ଭୟ କରୁନାହାନ୍ତି।…
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) October 21, 2025















