Congress staged a demonstration outside the Odisha Director General of Police (DGP)'s office on Friday, demanding justice for three women who died after suffering fatal burn injuries within a span of three weeks.
Led by state Congress president Bhakta Charan Das, hundreds of party activists marched from Mata Math in Bhubaneswar before staging a four-hour sit-in near the DGP's office. The protest follows the demise of three women since July 12, which has sparked widespread outrage across the state.
The first incident, on July 12, involved a 20-year-old student from FM College in Balasore, who died two days after setting herself on fire on campus. She had accused a faculty member of sexual harassment.
On August 2, a 15-year-old girl from the Balanga area of Puri district also died from burn injuries. While her mother claimed she was set on fire by three unidentified men, police have asserted that no other individuals were involved in the incident.
The third victim was a 19-year-old college student from Kendrapara who died on August 6 after self-immolating at her home. It is alleged that she was a victim of blackmail by her ex-boyfriend.
Also read: Odisha Cong to launch ‘Nari Naya Yatra’ for women safety
Earlier, the Congress had issued an ultimatum to the Odisha Police, giving them a week to arrest the three individuals who allegedly set the Balanga girl on fire. "Since the police failed to arrest the three people involved in the Balanga minor girl burning case within one week, we are forced to sit on a dharna near the DGP office," added Das.
In a memorandum submitted to the DGP, Congress accused the police of inaction and negligence in all three cases. They claimed that police failed to register an FIR for the Kendrapara woman seven days before her death, despite her visiting the police station six months prior with her parents to complain about her ex-boyfriend's blackmail. The party also highlighted the police's failure to take any action in the Balanga girl's case.
"We urge upon the Odisha Police to rise to the occasion and take action in order to prevent other such women from ending their lives," Das said. He added that the DGP was also requested to register a "Zero FIR," as suggested by the chief minister. A Zero FIR allows a complaint to be filed at any police station, irrespective of where the crime occurred, before it is transferred to the correct jurisdiction.
The Congress announced it would soon launch a weeklong statewide agitation, with demonstrations planned outside all police stations to demand justice for the victims. In anticipation of the protest, a heavy police deployment was seen in Cuttack to maintain order. Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo confirmed that the "dharna and march were peaceful".
Follow us
