Bhubaneswar, May 6 (IANS) Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President and Leader of the Opposition in Odisha Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, on Wednesday urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to ensure strict and swift action against those involved in the brutal killing of a pregnant woman at Kharida village in Hinjili block of Ganjam district.

Patnaik, in his letter, stated, “I write to you with deep anguish regarding the heinous crime reported from Kharida village under my constituency, Hinjili. As per news reports and video footage circulating, a pregnant woman was brutally murdered in front of her 3-year-old daughter by the brother of her partner.”

He further added that the deceased woman was reportedly staging a dharna in front of her partner’s house, seeking justice, holding her child, when she was attacked. The BJD supremo also said that the visual of a 3-year-old child crying beside her mother’s body has shocked the conscience of Odisha.

“As Chief Minister of the State holding the Home Portfolio, I urge you to direct the Police to arrest all accused immediately. Also provide immediate state care, compensation and rehabilitation for the 3-year-old daughter who witnessed the crime and inquire why preventive action was not taken by police when the victim was sitting in a dharna seeking justice,” added Patnaik.

He sought the personal intervention of CM Majhi to ensure that the perpetrators are punished as per law and such incidents are not repeated.

Meanwhile, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Wednesday termed the brutal killing of the pregnant woman in Ganjam district as “highly unfortunate” and said police are taking all necessary steps in the case. Reacting to the incident, the Minister said such crimes are deeply disturbing and unacceptable.

“This is a very unfortunate incident. I believe the police are doing their job and taking appropriate action,” he stated.

Harichandan assured that the accused will be brought to justice and stressed that law enforcement agencies are actively working to ensure strict punishment under the law. He reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining law and order and dealing firmly with heinous crimes.

It is pertinent to mention that Jintu Gauda of Kharida village under Hinjili police station in Ganjam district had eloped with the victim, Puja Swain of Agasti Nuagaon under Rambha police limits, about two years ago.

The couple later reportedly got married at a temple in Puri district and stayed there for some time. They subsequently had a daughter. Around 15 days ago, while returning from Puri, Jintu allegedly fled, leaving Puja and their minor daughter at Berhampur railway station. She later filed a complaint with the police against her lover and his family members.

Seeing no action taken by the police, she was sitting in protest at her in-laws’ house. Meanwhile, Jintu’s younger brother, a minor, hacked her to death in broad daylight with a sharp weapon on Tuesday afternoon.

The minor brother-in-law of the victim was immediately detained by the police.

–IANS

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