Odisha CM orders SIT probe into murder of 5-year-old girl
Odisha Chief Minister NaveenPatnaik on Friday announced probe by a Special InvestigativeTeam (SIT) into the kidnapping and murder of a five-year-oldgirl in the Nayagarh district.
Taking part in the assembly proceeding through avideo-link, Patnaik said he was deeply saddened by theincident and his government will always stand for the Rule ofLaw.
“If SIT investigation is what is required, the stategovernment will take steps in this regard and do itimmediately,” Patnaik said amid chaos in the House.
As Patnaik spoke, members of the opposition BJP andCongress continued to raise slogans, demanding the resignationof agriculture minister Arun Kumar Sahoo for his alleged rolein shielding the main accused.
“I request all the members to cooperate andparticipate,” Patnaik said as the assembly failed to transactany business for the second consecutive day due to thepandemonium by opposition members.
BJP members demanded a CBI probe into the incident andresignation of the agriculture minister, while the CongressMLAs demanded a court-monitored SIT probe, besides dismissalof the minister.
Though the state government had earlier announced aprobe by the Crime Branch into the kidnapping and murder ofthe girl on July 14, the opposition parties rejected it as asham.
They alleged that the Crime Branch probe would not beimpartial as long as Sahoo continue to remain in the cabinet.
BJPs deputy leader in assembly BC Sethi said, “Thereis no reason to call off stir in the assembly. We had notdemanded an SIT probe. BJPs demand was a CBI probe andresignation of the minister, which were not fulfilled.” Sethi said his party will continue to demand theministers resignation.
The Congress is yet to comment on the chief ministersannouncement.
Speaker SN Patro adjourned the House several timesduring the day and convened an all-party meeting to normalisethe proceedings.
The state government on Wednesday had ordered theCrime Branch to take over the investigation.
A seven-member team of the Crime Branch led byadditional director general Yashwant Jethwa began the probe atNayagarh Sadar police station.
BJP supporters also staged a demonstration outside theassembly and burnt an effigy of the minister, demanding hisresignation.
The police had a tough time in tackling the BJPactivists who gathered near the assemblys main gate, tryingto barge into the premises. Ten BJP supporters were detained,a senior police official said.
The kidnapping and murder case came to the limelightafter the girls parents attempted self-immolation, pouringkerosene, in front of the assembly main gate four days back.
They had publicly accused the minister of shieldingBabuli Nayak, the prime accused in the case.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Federal staff and is auto-published from a syndicated feed.)