Odisha CM Orders SIT Probe Into Nayagarh Pari Murder Case

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered SIT probe in the Nayagarh Pari murder case.

The CM virtually declared this during the winter session of the Odisha assembly on Friday. ” If SIT investigation is what is required, the state government will take steps in this regard and do it immediately,” he said.

Naveen further said that he was deeply saddened by the incident. “My government is committed to a free and fair investigation and we always want justice to be done,” he said while requesting all the members of the House to cooperate by participating in the discussion.

Speaker Surjya Patro had earlier adjourned the House for 30 minutes till 11.30 am and convened an all-party meeting to normalise proceedings which were disrupted with the Congress and BJP MLAs demanding the resignation of Agriculture Minister Arun Sahoo and an SIT probe into the incident.

The Opposition BJP and Congress were not happy with the Crime Branch probe ordered by the government on Thursday as the parents of the victim had been pointing fingers at the minister. Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik had said that there is every chance of the government influencing the investigation as a Cabinet Minister has been dragged into the case.

Meanwhile, a seven-member team of the Crime Branch along with ADG Yashwant Jethwa began a probe at the Nayagarh Sadar police station this morning. The team also visited Jadupur village.

Speaking to media, the ADG had said that stringent action will be taken against whosoever is found guilty.

Notably, the victim’s father had lodged a complaint after she went missing on July 14 and a case was registered on the same day. With the help of VHF waves and sniffer dogs, the skeletal remains of the victim packed in a bag were later traced to the backyard of her house on July 23.