The BJP organised a march to ‘Naveen Nivas’, the Chief Minister’s residence, demanding his resignation and a CBI probe in to the Kunduli girl gang rape and suicide incident. The protest march had the city police on its toes despite unprecedented deployment and barricading. BJP leaders and workers attempted to storm the residence as well as the secretariate from different directions.

Many scuffled with the police and raised slogans against the CM. Vehicular traffic was disrupted with barricades and no entries put up by the police. The main gates of the secretariat, hospital and other such places were heavily guarded or closed.

The BJP charged that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has lost his moral right to govern as the victim of rape had been dubbed as mentally unstable, liar etc and humiliated to such an extent that she committed suicide.The victim had alleged that the police tried to buy her silence. The forensic reports have been tampered. The CM is in charge of the home department and after all this he has not uttered a word nor taken action on errant cops, alleged the BJP.

It may be recalled here that a minor dalit girl of Sorisapadar village near Kunduli in Koraput district had alleged that she had been gang raped on 10 October by armed uniformed men. She committed suicide on 22 January.

The state has ordered a judicial probe in to the incident and also sent the garments of the victim to the central forensic lab in Kolkatta for further tests. Meanwhile a team of police officers of the NHRC investigation wing reached Koraput today.

The team members said they will interact with the family of the deceased girl, villagers, police and the doctors who had examined the victim.The team will also meet anyone interested to provide specific information, said a DSP of the team at Koraput today.

NHRC has directed the team to probe and furnish a report within fifteen days.Reacting to the BJP’s march today, the ruling BJD spoke-sperson and MP said it is nothing but a brazen attempt to politicise an unfortunate incident and somehow try to get votes in the Bijepur bypoll.

The BJP will fail in all such efforts as people of Odisha know that CM Naveen Patnaik does not spare anyone of any wrong doing. His track record in this regard is well established, he said. A judicial probe has been ordered and justice will be done, he asserted.