Baleshwar: The Opposition BJD and Congress have called separate shutdowns in Odisha’s Jaleswar area Tuesday to protest the rape and murder of a girl earlier this month.
The BJD has called a 12-hour bandh from 6 am, while the Congress has appealed for an eight-hour shutdown over the incident, which has triggered widespread outrage across the state.
The 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered October 18, while her body was found October 22.
Jaleswar’s BJD MLA Aswini Kumar Patra Monday alleged that the victim’s father had handed over the accused to the police but was allowed to go free after two days, exposing the police’s inaction.
The accused and two of his associates were arrested later, following public pressure, he claimed.
“Under whose instruction did the police release the accused? The person concerned should be brought within the purview of the investigation,” Patra demanded.
Baleshwar district Congress president Satya Siba Das also criticised the police over their alleged failure to handle the case and demanded a Crime Branch investigation.
The Congress has called an eight-hour bandh in Jaleswar from 6 am Tuesday to demand justice for the victim’s family, Das said.