Devbrat Patnaik

Bhubaneswar: The pre-lunch session of the Odisha Assembly today witnessed unruly scenes after Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik expressed grave concerns over the issue of sexual assaults against minor girls in the State. Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro adjourned the House till 12.30 PM and then till 3PM after the Opposition created ruckus demanding a reply on what steps the government has taken to curb the rate of children going missing every year.

Both BJP and the Congress criticised the ruling government claiming that such incidents highlight a lack of oversight by the authorities and reveal a deep and utter failure of CM Naveen Patnaik.

Briefing the Assembly, Women and Child Development Minister, Tukuni Sahu had on Saturday informed that 602 children have gone missing in three months since January this year. On Sunday, an eight-year-old girl was allegedly abducted from Angul Bus Stand and raped by a miscreant. She was later found lying unconscious in a garbage dump with injury marks on her body.

Amid an uproar by the Opposition parties over these issues, the pre-lunch session was washed out today. Speaking to media, LoP Naik said "Over the last four years, many children have gone missing. The government also submits a reply every time but no steps have been taken to curb the crime. The State government is not concerned about the safety of children. May be they will realise the circumstances only after their own family comes across such instances."

"It's shocking to see that so many children have gone missing over the past few years while those traced is very less in number. The government should clarify on what is being done to the missing children. Naveen Patnaik-led government has turned a deaf ear to the rising atrocities. The law and order in the State is in a shambles which is why crime rate has gone up," added Naik.

On the other hand, senior Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati has demanded CM Naveen Patnaik to resign from the post over deteriorating law and order situation in the State. "More than 500 girls are missing in Odisha. Every day 7 girls are getting raped. CM in his statement said that law and order in the State is under control, at a time when minor girls are being raped every other day. The CM is able to fetch votes during elections, but he has failed to run the State. In Odisha, neither mothers are safe nor the children. The CM doesn't deserve to hold his post. He should resign," lashed Bahinipati.

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