In a stark reminder of rising tensions in Odisha, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik expressed profound grief over the brutal killing of a minority youth in Balasore district. The incident, allegedly linked to accusations of illegal cattle smuggling, has ignited widespread outrage and calls for justice.
Patnaik voiced his sorrow during a meeting with party leaders at his Naveen Niwas residence. Acting swiftly on his directives, a high-level BJD delegation rushed to Balasore on Tuesday to probe the death of Sheikh Makrand Mohammad from Astia village under Balasore Sadar police limits.
Senior BJD leader Sanjay Das Burma, speaking to reporters, lambasted the incident as unprecedented in Odisha’s history of communal harmony since independence. ‘Our president is deeply saddened by this horrific event,’ Burma stated, detailing the team’s composition including MP Sulta Dev, former minister Prafulla Samal, and Bhadark Nagar Palika chairperson Gulmaki Habib.
The delegation met the grieving family and district police officials, demanding a thorough investigation. Burma accused the state of deteriorating law and order, labeling the murder as a glaring example of escalating attacks on minorities following the ‘double-engine’ BJP government’s rise.
Echoing these sentiments, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) chief Bhakta Charan Das slammed the ruling dispensation, claiming atrocities against minorities, Dalits, and tribals have surged under BJP rule.
According to the family, the 14-year-old incident unfolded when self-proclaimed cow vigilantes assaulted the youth, inflicting severe injuries. Local police rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed despite medical efforts.
The BJD has vehemently condemned the violence and vowed to pursue all details surrounding the case. As political rhetoric intensifies, the tragedy underscores the urgent need for robust measures to safeguard vulnerable communities and restore peace in the region.