Pari Murder: Sarpanch Moves Orissa HC For Protection After Raising Finger At Minister Sahoo

Cuttack: Soon after raising his finger at minister Arun Sahoo in the murder of minor girl Pari before the media, sarpanch of Lakshmiprasad panchayat in Nayagarh district Soumyaranjan Pradhan on Friday filed a petition at the Orissa High Court seeking protection for him and his family members apprehending threat to their lives from minister Arun Sahoo.

Pradhan has made six persons including Sahoo, Home secretary, Director General of Police (DGP), Nayagarh Collector, SP and local IIC as opposite parties in his petition, said his advocate SP Das.

The sarpanch, who was elected Independent from the panchayat, had alleged that he has been receiving threat calls after going vocal against Sahoo in Pari murder case.

The day marked an uproar in the Assembly over the issue, while opposition BJP and Congress took to streets demanding the resignation of Sahoo and CBI probe into the case.

Earlier, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ordered SIT probe into the case during the session of the Assembly. “If SIT investigation is what is required, the state government will take steps in this regard and do it immediately,” he said.

On Thursday, a leaked telephonic conversation between Pradhan and Sahoo went viral on social media.