Bhubaneswar: Hundreds of youth Congress activists, led by Pradesh Congress chief Prasad Harichandan Thursday staged a demonstration outside Naveen Niwas, the residence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, opposing the SIT probe ordered by the government into the alleged Kunduli gang rape case.
The police prevented the youth Congress activists near Sishu Bhawan to further proceed to Naveen Niwas leading to a scuffle in which the youth Congress activists pelted eggs at the police force and attempted to break the police cordon .The police detained several youth congress activists.
Tension prevailed as Harichandan and former Youth Congress president Pradeep Majhi along with their supporters sat on a dharna on the Sishu Bhawan Square protesting the police action.
The Congress demonstrators demanded that the Chief Minister step down from the post for denying justice to the Kunduli gang rape victim who had committed suicide January 22 last.
Harichandan said his party would continue the agitation till the victim gets justice, to uphold the dignity of women and prevent recurrence of such incidents in future. Former MP and youth leader Pradeep Majhi said the SIT inquiry ordered by the CM is an eyewash and demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident.
He said they would not be cowed down by the police action and would intensify their agitation till the Chief Minister steps down from his post. The minor tribal girl alleged that she was gang-raped by four uniformed security personnel October 10 last inside Lanjiguda forest under Pottangi Police station of Koraput district.
Opposition parties have been alleging that the girl was forced to commit suicide January 22 last after the government failed to give her justice and the administration and police tried to suppress the case.
PNN
