Vikash Sharma

Bhubaneswar: Expressing discontent over the ongoing probe into the mysterious death of lady Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) Smitarani Biswal of Haridaspur in Jajpur district, BJP on Saturday reiterated its demand for a CBI probe.

Terming it as a pre-planned murder, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik today trained guns on the chairperson of the State Commission for Women and Jajpur Superintendent of Police (SP).“Instead of meeting the family members of the deceased, the Women Commission chairperson met the accused and concluded her probe. Similarly, the SP only reiterated statements of the accused by raking up the extra marital affair of the victim. We want Odisha government to take stern action against the accused," said Naik.

“Why the lady PEO went to the guest house which belongs to the local Sarpanch’s husband? Who took her there? If she committed suicide, then why her body was taken out in absence of police?” questioned Naik.

Addressing a presser, Naik demanded immediate dismissal of Jajpur SP and Chairperson of the State Commission for Women.

“The State government in the past has tried to suppress several heinous crimes in the name of crime branch inquiry. We are demanding a CBI probe into the lady PEO death. If the State government doesn’t recommend for CBI probe before the next Assembly session, we will not allow the House to run smoothly,” said Naik adding that a BJP delegation will also meet Prime Minister and Home Minister in this connection.

Citing data from the local tehsil office that the concerned guest house where Smitarani was found dead was evicted in March 2018, BJP questioned if the guest house was demolished, how it was operating till now? The district collector and revenue department need to come up with a clarification, Naik said.

Chairperson of Odisha State Commission for Women, Minati Behera on the other hand stated that already the commission has written to the Odisha DGP seeking a crime branch probe into the incident.

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