Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan once again targeted Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who also heads the Home department, by raking up the law and order situation on the backdrop of recent murder of cabinet minister, Naba Kishore Das.
Pradhan, who was in Jharsuguda district to attend the Akhil Bharatiya Gondwana Gond Mahasabha programme on Saturday, said that the overall law and order situation in Odisha has deteriorated and a sense of lawlessness has crept in.
“A cabinet minister was shot dead by a police officer and other incidents speak volumes about the law and order situation. The CM heads the Home department and before the situation slips out of the hand, stern measures need to be taken,” said Pradhan.
The Union Minister also raised questions over the ongoing Crime Branch investigation into Naba Das murder.
“The State government has its own opinion and analysis over investigation. But the supporters of Naba Das are not satisfied with the ongoing investigation by Crime Branch and they have said it before media. The supporters are demanding an independent inquiry by a third party,” Pradhan added.
Earlier, the Union Minister also visited the families of deceased Naba Das and Kishore Mohanty and extended condolences. Brajarajnagar MLA, Alaka Mohanty said, “The Union Minister had visited our house to meet us as he could not turn up on the one year death anniversary of my husband.”
(Reported by Bhagirathi Sahu)