Trouble has mounted for the BJD after Housing and Urban Development Minister and Mahanga MLA Pratap Jena’s name was found in the FIR lodged in the murder case of Mahanga BJP leader Kulamani Baral. As per the complaint lodged by Kulamani’s son Ramakant Baral, the Minister is among the 13 persons accused of being involved in the murder of BJP Salepur in-charge and Mahanga block ex-chairman Kulamani and his associate Dibyasingh Baral on Saturday evening. Ramakant alleged four days ago, his father had told him that the Minister had threatened to kill both of them. “The Minister is completely responsible for the murder of my father. The miscreants killed him on the Minister’s direction as he raised his voice against various corruptions, including housing scam in Mahanga,” he said.
Now, BJP leaders have targeted the State Government and demanded arrest of all accused immediately.BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “Senior BJP leader Kulamani Baral was brutally hacked to death just because he spoke against the corruption of Minister Pratap Jena. The Minister’s name finds a mention in the FIR as well. Is Odisha going the Bengal way?”
BJP State general secretary Prithiviraj Harichandan warned Ministers, including the Chief Minister, would not be allowed to attend any public function if the culprits are not arrested in 48 hours from Monday. He added that BJP activists would gherao SP offices on January 6 and 25,000 party activists would stage protest in front of the DG office on January 8. Previously, the Congress was doing such heinous crimes and now the BJD, he remarked. The BJP also on Monday staged protest in all blocks of Cuttack district over the murder of Mahanga party leader Kulamani Baral and his associate Dibyasingh Baral.
Party workers demanded arrest of Minister Pratap Jena alleging that the attack on the deceased duo was carried out on the behest of Jena, who is the Mahanga MLA. Kulamani Baral had brought to the fore the irregularities in the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana PMAY) in the area, for which he was murdered by those involved in the corruption, BJP leaders alleged. Alleging that Minister Jena is shielding murderers Baimundi Mandal of the BJP here lodged a complaint against him at the Markat Nagar police station on Monday. “The Minister is at helm of all corrupt practices in Mahanga; and if anyone tries to unearth his unethical activities, he is targeted and neutralised,” said BJP Mandal chief Lalatendu Badu.