Bhubaneswar: Law, Housing and Urban Development Minister and Mahanga MLA Pratap Jena found himself in fresh trouble after being named as an accused in the murder of BJP leader Kulamani Baral.
Ex-chairman of Mahanga block and observer, Salepur Assembly constituency Kulamani Baral and his aide Dibyasingh Baral were attacked by some miscreants at Kurujanga village under Mahanga police limits in Cuttack district Saturday.
They were rushed to Mahanga community health centre where the doctors declared Kulamani received dead. Dibyasingh was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital. He breathed his last Sunday morning while undergoing treatment.
In this connection, the deceased leader’s son Ramakanta Baral lodged an FIR against 12 persons with the Mahanga police station. Among others, MLA Pratap Jena’s name has also been mentioned in the FIR.
He and his aide had to pay with their lives for raising voice against various corruptions. The miscreants murdered them at the minister’s behest, alleges Ramakanta.
BJP has started cornering the ruling BJD over this issue. At a press conference held at BJP’s state office Sunday, BJP’s state general secretary Golak Mohaptra drew parallels between the situations in West Bengal and Odisha and said that BJP leaders are being murdered for raising voice against Mamata Banerjee’s government and here the BJD leaders are killing BJP leaders for the same.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had condemned this saying that there may be difference of opinions but murdering one for this is shocking. “I expect strict action from the administration,” he had stated.
However, in his reaction immediately after the BJP’s press conference, Minister Pratap Jena had turned down the BJP’s allegation. He said there is no place of violence in the land of Lord Jagannath.
PNN