BJD Calls for 6-Hour Protest Amidst Opposition from Victim's Family and Villagers
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha's Puri district held a six-hour bandh today from 6 am to 12 noon, demanding justice for a 15-year-old girl from Balanga Bayabar village who died after being set on fire by unidentified miscreants on July 19. However, the protest has been met with opposition from the victim's father and the villagers of Bayabar.
- Controversy Over Politicization: The father of the victim has appealed to not politicize his daughter's death, stating, "We are already in pain. Please don’t turn my daughter’s death into a political issue. Let us grieve in peace".
- Villagers' Concerns: Villagers of Bayabar have requested the BJD not to defame the village and expressed that the party is "making political bread" out of the tragedy.
- BJD's Demands: The BJD has demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident, alleging lapses in the police investigation and discrepancies in the official narrative.
The girl succumbed to her injuries on August 2 while undergoing treatment at AIIMS Delhi. The BJD has accused the state government of shielding the perpetrators, while the Odisha Police claim there's no evidence of anyone else's involvement in the incident.