Odisha BJP Writes To Union Home Minister On Sambalpur Violence, Demands NIA Probe

Bhubaneswar: The BJP has drawn the attention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ‘precarious’ law and order situation arising out of ‘communal clash’ in Odisha’s Sambalpur and demanded NIA investigation into the matter.

In a letter to the Home Minister, senior BJP leaders of the state said the violent attack on a bike rally on the eve of Hanuman Jayanti between April 12 and 14 left several persons including police personnel injured. Several shops, vehicles and private properties were set on fire. A tribal youth was also killed by a mob on the day of Hanuman Jayanti.

“The violence and arson in Sambalpur during the Hanuman Jayanti procession has exposed the poor intelligence network of the Odisha Police and lack of foresight in ascertaining the consequences of inadequate security and ineptitude to follow the MHA advisory issued for Hanuman Jayanti on April 5,” the letter read.

Stating that the attacks were pre-planned and organised, the BJP alleged that “the police were aware of sensitivity and chose not to act appropriately”.

“The situation in Sambalpur is the result of callous police administration, which despite the advisory of the MHA preferred not to make adequate security arrangements for the bike rally on April 12. We are appalled at the biased and negligent attitude of the Odisha government in handling the situation,” the BJP leader said.

The further said, ” We strongly condemn the heinous and communal violence and demand impartial investigation by NIA to unravel the conspiracy and strict action against its perpetrators,” the BJP letter read.

Among others, Odisha president of BJP Manmohan Samal, MP Aparajita Sarangi, opposition chief whip Mohan Majhi, MLA Nauri Nayak, Lalitendu  Bidyadhar Mohapatra, K Narayan Rao and Suryavanshi Suraj have signed the letter.