The rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl in Odisha’s Bhadrak district has sparked widespread fury, leading to the demolition of the accused’s house by an angry mob and a flurry of political protests. The tragedy came to light on Tuesday evening when the child's body was discovered in a pool of blood near a bush in Baligaon. She went to school earlier that morning but never returned. This prompted her family to file a missing person’s complaint just hours before the grim discovery.
As soon as the news about the incident spread, locals hit the streets on Tuesday night. The agitation intensified on Wednesday morning, with protesters blocking roads in at least three places in Chandbali. They also gheraoed the local police station.
In a direct act of vigilante justice, a mob stormed the village of Rampalli and demolished the house of the man identified as the suspect. Bhadrak Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Rout confirmed that the prime accused was tracked down and arrested in Jagatsinghpur district within 24 hours. While heavy security has been deployed to maintain order, the SP has urged the public not to take the law into their own hands.
The incident has also triggered a sharp political confrontation. The opposition BJD and Congress parties have called for a six-hour bandh in the Chandbali block on Thursday to protest what they describe as a failure of the state government to ensure the safety of women and children. Biju Janata Dal workers even staged a demonstration outside the Chief Minister’s official residence in Bhubaneswar. In response, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his deep grief and announced ₹10 lakh in financial assistance for the victim’s family, while directing officials to ensure the "strictest possible punishment" for the culprit.
Locals alleged that unauthorised roadside shops on encroached land have been selling liquor and other intoxicants, fuelling crime in the area. Taking immediate note, the local Tahsildar and police have begun a drive to clear these illegal encroachments. Meanwhile, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan and Deputy CM Pravati Parida have defended the government’s response, pointing to the swift arrest as proof that the administration is giving the police a free hand to tackle heinous crimes.
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