All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala has demanded for a court-monitored SIT probe into the murder of lady teacher Mamita Meher.
Surjewala along with the party’s Odisha in-charge A. Chellakumar and senior leader Narasingha Mishra on Thursday met the family members of Mamita at their native Jharni village in Tureikela block of Balangir district.
After meeting the family, Mr.Surjewala said the sensitive murder case should be investigated by a SIT under the supervision of chief justice of Orissa High Court.
Speaking to reporters there, Mr.Surjewala said apart from the main culprit, the person who shields the accused and made conspiracy of the crime, also equally culprit for the crime.
“In this case, it is the MoS Home. Why has he not been dismissed till now? If he supervises the investigation, who will give punishment to the culprits?” he asked.
Mr.Mishra should be booked under Section 120 (B) of IPC and he should be removed from the council of ministers, he demanded. “Until the Minister has not been removed, the Naveen Patnaik government is incapable of punishing the criminals,” Mr.Surjewala said.
He also demanded for a SIT probe under the supervision of chief justice of Orissa High Court and speedy trial of the case.
“The charge sheet should be furnished soon, trial should be completed within 90 days and all efforts should be made to hang the culprits,” the AICC Spokesperson said.
Stating the sacred land of Lord Jagannath has turned into a crime hub, the Congress leader said, “Odisha ranks second in the country in terms of crime against women due to the crime rate of 112.9 percent. Not only this, in the last three years, 68,946 crimes were committed against the women of Odisha. 70 women are victimized in a day and 15 minor girls go missing every day from the State.”
Everyday 4 murders, 4 rapes, 11 kidnappings and 12 murder attempts take place in Odisha, he said.
Odisha ranks first in the attacks on the honor of women in the country and it has the highest number of cyber crimes against women across the country, he pointed out.
Surjewala said the murder of the 24-year-old teacher has freshened the memory of the Nirbhaya case. It is clear from the media reports, many videos, and many newspaper reports that the accused Govind Sahu and his organization enjoys full protection of the State’s Home, Power, Small Industries Minister, Dibya Shankar Mishra. It is also alleged that the minister has stayed at the institution many times, the Congress leader said.
Further, he demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore and a government job for the victim’s brother.
Congress legislature party leader Narasingha Mishra, who also visited the family, said “In the fight for justice, if required, I’ll don the black coat again.”
The DIG said the probe is almost over. Then, why there is no investigation of the conspiracy behind Mamita’s murder?, questioned Mr.Mishra.
Meanwhile, continuing their protest over the case, BJP Yuva Morcha workers today tried to gherao the Bhubaneswar DCP’s office. They are demanding removal and arrest of Minister Mr.Mishra.
Morcha’s State President Irasis Acharya said no action has been taken against Mr.Mishra even after there are proof about his proximity to the accused in the murder.
He warned that they will further intensify the agitation if the minister is not dismissed and arrested at the earliest. The BJP workers also protested in Chatrapur town of Ganjam today.
Reacting on this issue, BJD legislator Kishore Mohanty said, “From the very day Naveen Patnaik took charge as CM of the State, opposition parties are demanding resignation. There is nothing new.”
On the involvement of DS Mishra, he said it would not be appropriate to accuse someone before completion of the investigation.
