Odisha: The BJP has intensified its agitation across the state demanding sacking and arrest of Minister of state for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra for his alleged close proximity with Gobind Sahu, the prime accused in the murder of Mahaling school teacher Mamita Meher. A 12 hour bandh observed by the party in four districts— Balasore, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Boudh and six hour bandh in Bhadrak to put pressure on the government to concede to its demand.
The activists of the party also gheraoed the office of SP at Rourkela and Cuttack in support of their demands. Besides arrest and removal of the Minister of state from the Council of Ministers, the party also demanded for a CBI inquiry into the case to bring out the truth. The BJP alleged that Mr. Mishra was directly involved in the murder of the school teacher. Mamita, a teacher of Sunshine English Medium school, Mahaling in Kalahandi district was murdered on October 8 as she threatened to expose the sex racket run by Gobind Sahu in the school. The BJP said since there is allegation of the complicity of the Minister in the incident he should either resign or the Chief Minister should sack him for a fair probe into the incident.
Normal life was disrupted in five districts where the BJP observed bandh on Saturday. Vehicular traffic was off the road, school and colleges, shops, market complex were closed in response to the bandh. Vehicles could not ply as the bandh supporters picketed on various roads including at Tinimuhai chhak, Chandol and other places in Kendrapara district. The Bangiriposi express train was detained by the bandh supporters at the Rupsa Railway station in Balasore for a brief period. However, essential services were exempted from the bandh purview.
