Puri Gang Rape: Accused Cop Arrested, BJP Seeks CM’s Resignation

Bhubaneswar/Puri: Following the arrest of a policeman accused of gang rape in Puri, BJP on Tuesday demanded the Chief Minister’s resignation “owning moral responsibility”.

Shockingly, a minor girl was gang raped inside a police quarter in Puri on Monday. Police arrested constable Jitendra Kumar Sethi as the prime accused in the crime.

Briefing the media in Puri on Tuesday, DIG (Central Range) Ashish Singh said the accused had nine black marks on his service book. The Puri SP had dismissed him from service in February. But he was reinstated later.

“The accused has been arrested. The interrogation of the three others is underway. Exemplary action will be taken against those involved in this case,” the DIG added.

Also on Tuesday, BJP leader Pradipta Naik told the media in Bhubaneswar that the number of such atrocities has gone up in Odisha and cited the instances of rape of a woman in Jajpur, a Dalit woman in Paikamal and a 19-year-old girl in Pipili.

Naik, who is also the leader of opposition, demanded a CBI probe into the gang rape, alleging that the police probe will not be impartial because the accused is a policeman.

“The Chief Minister, who holds the Home portfolio, should resign owning moral responsibility and tell the media about the follow-up action taken by the state government on this matter,” he added.

Soon after news of the incident broke in the media, hundreds of Congress activists took out a candle rally from Congress Bhawan to Naveen Niwas on Monday night.

The protesters demanded immediate arrest of the accused and stringent punishment against him. They had a scuffle with police who stopped the march at Sishu Bhawan Square. Police later arrested several activists.