The gruesome murder of 24-year old school teacher Mamita Meher in Odisha is the Nirbhaya of Delhi, charged senior Congress leader and AICC General Secretary Randeep Surjewala.
“The way the teacher was murdered here in Kalahandi reminds the 2012 brutal rape of Nirbhaya in Delhi. The BJD has made the land of Jagannath a crime-prone one. Murderers and criminals are wielding power in the State. And the victim's family is running from pillar to the post for justice,” said Surjewala.
The senior Congress leader was in Odisha on Thursday. He was leading a fact-finding team of the Indian National Congress that visited the house of the victim's family and met them at Jharni Village in Bolangir. Along with him, party’s Odisha in-charge A Chellakumar was also present. State leaders Narasingh Mishra, PCC President Niranjan Patnaik accompanied the team.
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Surjewala had lobbed a barrel of posers at the Odisha government post his visit.
Speaking to media persons, He put the following posers.
- Is it not true that the murder accused had direct links with the State’s MoS (Home) Dibya Shankar Mishra?
- Isn’t it true that the MoS Home and other Ministers of the BJD Government were staying at the educational institute?
- Is it not true that the girl students of the school were being sexually exploited?
- Isn’t true that neither a case has been registered against the Minister nor has he been removed from the Ministry?
Alleging lacunas in the charges slapped against the key accused, the Congress leader demanded that unless the Minister (Dibya Shankar Mishra) is booked under Sec 120B of IPC and dismissed from the Cabinet, a fair probe cannot be ensured and justice will never be delivered to our daughter (Mamita Meher).
He further pressed the demand of SIT led probe into the murder case. "An Orissa High Court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) should be formed to ensure an impartial probe into the murder. The political leaders guilty of the death of Mamita are roaming free. They should not be allowed to go scot-free," Surjewala said.
“The entire proceeding of the case should be completed in 90 days and death punishment should be pronounced for the accused,” demanded AICC Gen Secy.
He also demanded Rs 1 crore compensation to the kin of the deceased and a job for the deceased victim's brother from the Odisha government.
Senior leader and Congress legislative party leader Narasingha Mishra who accompanied the central team said, “Her (Mamita) mother clearly told me to fight for her daughter. As announced earlier, If I get any such request, I will wear black coat again to fight for justice to the girl.”
“Attempts were made to change the FIR. The DIG was giving his statement to only one electronic media. I think the police department is getting instructions from the Odisha Secretariat,” charged Mishra.
On the other hand, Mamita’s father Suchandra Meher demanded capital punishment for those found guilty in the murder.
“From peon to minister, those who are involved in the murder of my daughter should get death punishment,” said the victim’s father.
Meanwhile, the ruling BJD has hit back. Charging the Opposition of doing cheap politics, BJD MLA Kishore Kumar Mohanty said, “An inquiry is underway. Let the probe finish. How can one be made accused when the investigation is still on. Everyone knew what Congress did when it ruled the State. There is no need to comment on that."
“The Opposition —BJP and Congress - are doing politics. Ever since Naveen Patnaik has taken the reins of the State, the opposition has been demanding his resignation,” he mocked.