Mahanga Double Murder: Demand For Odisha Law Minister's Resignation Intensifies As Congress Hits Streets

Bhubaneswar: Alleging involvement of Odisha Law Minister Pratap Jena in the Mahanga double murder case, the student wing of Odisha Congress (Chhatra Congress) on Saturday took out a rally in the Capital City.

To gherao the Law Minister's official residence at Forest Park, members of the students' wing took out the rally from Congress Bhawan at Master Canteen Square. However, they were stopped by police near Rajmahal chhak.

Soon, a scuffle broke out between the cops and the protesting Chhatra Congress workers who were also demanding resignation of Jena for his alleged involvement in the Mahanga double murder case. Jena's name was also mentioned in the FIR registered by deceased BJP leader Kulamani Baral's son.

[caption id="attachment_517795" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Student wing of Odisha Congress stopped near Rajmahal Chhak[/caption]

The protestors also demanded that the Law Minister must be brought into the purview of investigation into the brutal murder of BJP leader Kulamani and his associate Dibyasingh Baral and burnt effigies of the Law Minister and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

[caption id="attachment_517799" align="aligncenter" width="750"] A member of Odisha Congress' student wing being overpowered by cops near Rajmahal Square[/caption]

"Police failed to nab the prime accused, who died under mysterious circumstances in a road mishap, in the political murder in Mahanga. The Law Minister is definitely involved in the murders. A fair investigation into the case is not possible till he holds the position. So, he must resign from his post immediately," alleged a member of the Chhatra Congress.

[caption id="attachment_517801" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Protesting member of Chhatra Congress being picked up by police in Bhubaneswar[/caption]

Meanwhile, the president of Congress' student wing said that the protest will continue till the Law Minister resigns and justice is delivered.

Kulamani Baral and his associate Dibyasingh Baral were murdered by unidentified assailants on January 2. The incident took place when the duo was returning home on a bike. Some miscreants attacked them with sharp weapons leaving them critically injured.

While Kulamani was declared dead at Mahanga Community Health Centre (CMC), Dibyasingh succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack the next day.