Bhubaneswar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday staged demonstration in all the blocks of Cuttack district demanding immediate arrest of those involved in the murder of party leader Kulamani Baral and his associate Dibyasingh in Salepur area on Saturday evening.
The BJP activists burnt the effigy of Mahanga MLA and Law Minister Pratap Jena alleging his involvement in the double murder and demanded his resignation. Jena is one among the 13 persons named in the FIR filed by the son of the deceased.
The party members also threatened to intensify their agitation if the persons involved in the crime are not taken into account soon.
As part of the protest, hundreds of BJP workers and activists staged dharna outside Aul Police Station in Kendrapara district demanding the ouster of Minister Pratap Jena.
"Earlier the Odisha government used to import potatoes from Kolkata. Now, the State government is learning the tactics of goondaism from West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. We condemn the brutal murder of Kulamani. Like Arun Sahu was involved in organ smuggling racket, Pratap Jena is encouraging lawlessness and crime in his area. We will not stop until the accused are arrested," said saffron party leader, Sritam Das.
State General Secretary of BJP Prithiviraj Harichandan also condemned the incident and said that the ministers of the State will not be allowed to attend any public function if the culprits along with the perpetrators are not arrested within 48 hours.
"If the culprits along with the perpetrators are not arrested in 48 hours, the Government will face the tune in every nook & corner of the State. The Ministers along with the @CMO_Odisha will not be allowed to attend any public function,' tweeted Harichandan.
Similarly, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi and national BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra targeted the State government and Minister Pratap Jena over the issue.
"The brutal murder of BJP karyakarta- Sri Kulmani Baral, in Mahanga block of Cuttack district last night is highly shocking. This is a political murder; BJD goons silenced him since he was unearthing corruption under PM Awaas Yojana. Is Odisha going the West Bengal way?," asked the parliamentarian.
"Senior BJP leader Kulamani Barala of Mahanga was brutally hacked to death just because he spoke against the corruption of Minister #PratapJena in Odisha Govt. The minister’s name finds a mention in the FIR as well. Is Odisha going the Bengal way??," wrote BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra in a tweet.
(Edited Ramakant Biswas)