Concern over law and order in Puri

Barely a few days had passed off after the Nimapara incident when the Pipli gang rape incident rocked the entire state. Serious charges were raised against the Pipli police for not accepting the complaints of the victim and her family. The then inspector has been dismissed from service and the agriculture minister and Pipli MLA Pradeep Maharathi has resigned on moral grounds.

Pipli gang rape incident had preceded by the abduction and murder of a girl named Sasmita in Chandanpur. Same kind of charges were levelled against the Chandanpur police. And now, the fatal attack on panchayti raj minister Maheswar Mohanty. Maheswar, now under treatment in the Kalinga hospital in Bhubaneswar was attacked near Purusottampur under Brahmagiri block.

These incidents have raised question marks over the law and order situation in Puri district. The temple town is an international tourist destination. The deterioration in the law and order situation has triggered a blame game among the leaders of the ruling BJD and opposition Congress. Congress MLA of Satyabadi and former home minister Prasad Harichandan while completely blaming the government said,"The police stations in Puri district have been converted into party offices of the BJD. That is 5the reason for the deteriorating law and order situation."

Defending Prasad`s accusations Puri Lok Sabha memebrr and senior BJD leader Pinaki Mishra said,"I was in the Congress and I know very well who is behind all these disturbances in Brahmagiri. It has been happening in Brahmagiri for the last 12 years and everybody knows who is behind it."