The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is trying to shield the suspects who gang raped a woman after holding her husband hostage on gunpoint in Koraput on December 24, alleged national secretary of BJP Mahila Morcha, Aiswarya Biswal, on Monday.
The saffron party’s women’s wing (Mahila Morcha) office bearers held a press conference at the party State headquarters in Bhubaneswar where Biswal pointed an accusing finger at the ruling party, accusing it of providing protection to the suspects. The Morcha demanded the police to provide security to the survivor and arrest the suspects at the earliest.
“In her complaint, the survivor has named Lal Bahadur Dorji and Meena Barik as the perpetrators of the crime against her. Both the suspects are having criminal antecedents and links with the BJD. Police too are aware of the background of these criminals. So, why are they (police) not arresting the duo,” she questioned.
Earlier, a four-member BJP delegation led by Biswal had met the victim in Jeypore on December 31.
Protesting against the heinous crime and demanding justice to the survivor, the saffron party had observed a dawn-to-dusk Jeypore bandh on December 30.
However, the BJD is yet to respond to the allegations levelled by the BJP Mahila Morcha in connection with the gang rape case.