Cuttack: Alleging lapses in Crime Branch investigation which led to acquittal of two accused in Pipili gang rape and murder case, BJP Mahila Morcha today gheraoed the investigating agency's headquarters in Cuttack. The women's wing of the saffron party also trained guns on Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and demanded resignation of Agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy for his comments hailing the verdict.
How will women get justice in Odisha when the Crime Branch destroys evidence," questioned BJP Mahila Morcha leader Prabhati Parida adding that Naveen Patnaik should break his silence on the issue.
Parida further alleged that Crime Branch did not conduct a thorough probe for which the two accused got acquitted from court. As CM heads the Home department, Naveen should resign along with his minister Pradeep Maharathy, she added.
BJP Mahila Morcha activists took out a rally from Dargha Bazaar in Cuttack and staged a demonstration and later gheraoed the Crime Branch headquarters. A scuffle also broke out between the activists and police personnel during the demonstration.
"No activist was misbehaved with. We did our duty to maintain law and order. Around hundred activists were taken into preventive custody as well," said Cuttack DCP Ahikeleswar Singh.
BJD leader Pramilla Mallick on the other hand accused BJP of politicising the issue.
Earlier on December 24, the Bhubaneswar Additional District Judge acquitted prime accused Prashant Pradhan and his brother Sukant due to lack of evidence against them in Pipili gang rape and murder case.