Itishree murder: BJP demands CBI grilling of BJD leaders, bureaucrats

Rayagada: The Rayagada District BJP Yuva Morcha on Saturday demanded CBI grilling of senior BJD leaders and senior bureaucrats involved in the murder of Itishree Pradhan, a lady teacher of Tikiri Upper Primary School, who had died of severe burn injuries at a private hospital in Vishakhapatnam on November 1, 2013.

According to reports, BJP workers, led by District BJP president Debasis Panda, staged a demonstration at Kapilash Chhak and burnt the effigy of Rayagada District BJD president Sudhir Das.

Talking to media persons, Panda said the Itishree murder had triggered outrage across the state while the involvement of some senior bureaucrats and ruling party leaders in the incident was also widely discussed in the media.

“We welcome the verdict of the court that has awarded life imprisonment to Netrananda Dandasena. But we ask the government through the media: where are these bureaucrats and political leaders? It is impossible to believe that Netrananda was the only accused in the murder case. The life convict, in his statement to the media yesterday, has mentioned the name of District BJD president Sudhir Das and another ruling party leader Bhaskar Rao who, he claims, are involved in the murder of the lady teacher. We demand that the CBI should bring these two BJD leaders and the senior officials whose name Itishree had mentioned in her dying statement, under the purview of its investigation,” Panda said.

Besides Rayagada, the BJP also staged similar agitation in Bisamkatak, Muniguda and Ambadola in the district.

However, Das could not be contacted for his comment on the allegation at his mobile number (9437016677) despite several attempts.