Bhubaneswar: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Odisha Legislative Assembly and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday wrote to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, seeking immediate action in connection with the alleged murder of a pregnant woman in Kharida village under Hinjili constituency in Ganjam district.
In his letter, Patnaik described the incident as a “heinous crime” that has “shocked the conscience of Odisha.” He referred to reports and circulating video footage suggesting that the woman was allegedly killed in front of her three-year-old daughter by the brother of her partner.
Patnaik urged the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, to direct police to immediately arrest all accused persons involved in the case. He also called for a thorough inquiry into the circumstances leading to the crime.
Highlighting the trauma faced by the victim’s minor daughter, who witnessed the incident, the LoP sought immediate state intervention for her care, compensation, and rehabilitation.
“As Chief Minister of the State holding the Home Portfolio, I urge you to direct the police to arrest all accused immediately. Also, provide immediate state care, compensation, and rehabilitation for the 3-year-old daughter who witnessed the crime, and inquire why preventive action was not taken by police when the victim was sitting in dharna seeking justice,” Patnaik stated in the letter.
He further questioned the alleged lack of preventive action by police despite reports that the victim had been staging a dharna seeking justice prior to the incident.
The former Chief Minister also requested Majhi’s personal intervention to ensure strict punishment for the perpetrators as per law and to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future.
