Post News Network
Rayagada, Feb 19: BJP activists staged a demonstration outside the district superintendent of police office here Thursday demanding CBI investigation into the alleged suicide committed by district welfare officer Dhaneswar Prusty.
They also demanded immediate arrest and suspension of collector, Shasi Bhushan Padhi, and project administrator of Integrated Tribal Development Agency, Gorachand Gomango, in connection with the case.
The activists later sat on an indefinite dharna outside the SP office and said that they would continue their protest until the administration accepted their demands.
Flaying the state government for handing over the case to Crime Branch (CB), a BJP leader said: “The government had earlier handed over Bhagirathi Mandangi murder and Itishree Pradhan immolation cases to Crime Branch. But, the CB failed to arrest main accused in these cases. Therefore, we don’t think that CB would be able to resolve this case also.”
“That is why we want that the DWO suicide case should be handed over to CBI,” he added.
Another BJP leader claimed that the collector is working as an agent of the state government and is involved in large scale irregularities. “The state government is trying to cover up his wrongdoings,” he added.
BJP district unit president Tapan Tapadar, vice-president NN Padhi, state executive board member Kaliram Majhi and other leaders Shiva Shankar Ullaka, Rajat Madala, Bhaskar Nayak, Haldhar Mishra, Sumant Moharana and women wing president P Laxmi Pattnaik were among the protestors.
Padhi absent from office
Collector Padhi, whose name was mentioned in the suicide note written by DWO Prusty, has been absent from his office for last two days. Prusty had blamed both Padhi and Gomango for harassing him.
Police found the suicide note Wednesday. The issue has also created an uproar in the state Assembly. However, Padhi could not be contacted for his comment on the matter.
Congress presents memo to SP
Congress leaders of the district also staged a demonstration here demanding immediate arrest and dismissal of Padhi and Gomango Thursday. They also presented a memorandum to the SP citing their demands. The party is preparing for observing a bandh in the district over the issue Friday. Meanwhile, a team of CB reached Rayagada Thursday evening for probing the suicide case.
