Cuttack: The Odisha Congress on Friday held a dharna in front of the office of the Director General of Police (DGP), demanding justice in three recent cases where women died of burn injuries under disturbing circumstances.
The protest, led by state Congress president Bhakta Charan Das, saw hundreds of party workers march from Mata Math in Bhubaneswar to the DGP’s office in Cuttack, where they staged a four-hour-long sit-in.
The Congress accused the police of gross negligence and inaction in all three cases, which occurred within a span of three weeks and have sparked widespread outrage.
The first case involved a 20-year-old female student of FM College in Balasore who set herself on fire on campus on July 12 after accusing a faculty member of sexual harassment. She succumbed to her injuries two days later.
The second case took place in the Balanga area of Puri district, where a 15-year-old girl died on August 2 of severe burn injuries. Her mother claimed that three unidentified men set her on fire, but the police denied the involvement of any other persons.
The third incident occurred at Pattamundai in Kendrapara on August 6, where a 19-year-old college student, allegedly blackmailed by her ex-boyfriend, immolated herself in her home. The Congress claimed that she and her parents had approached the police six months ago, but their complaint was not registered. Even a fresh attempt to lodge an FIR, seven days before the girl’s death, was allegedly ignored.
Addressing the media during the protest, Bhakta Charan Das stated that the Congress had earlier issued a one-week ultimatum to the police to arrest the accused in the Balanga case, but no action was taken.
The party submitted a memorandum to the DGP accusing the police of failing to respond to complaints and of mishandling the investigations. Das further urged the police to adopt the “Zero FIR” system, allowing victims to file complaints at any police station regardless of jurisdiction, a step that has already been recommended by the Chief Minister.
Das said the party would not remain silent and announced that the Congress will launch a weeklong agitation, staging protests outside police stations across the state to press for justice and accountability in all three cases. He added that the police must rise to the occasion and take proactive steps to ensure that such tragedies do not continue to happen.
Meanwhile, the Cuttack police made heavy security arrangements to maintain law and order during the protest.
According to Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo, the dharna and rally were peaceful.
