The BJP State Mahila Morcha on Saturday called for CBI probe into the barbaric killing of Tikiri UP school teacher Itishree Pradhan and threatened to launch a Statewide agitation if the demand was not met forthwith.
The Morcha also challenged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to step down and face probe to prove his innocence. Since Itishree, in her dying declaration, had named the Chief Minister and Koraput MP Jayram Pangi among others for meeting her fate, CBI inquiry is the only alternative to unearth the truth, Morcha president Simantini Jena said, adding that the CM has no moral right to continue in the office.
Holding Patnaik responsible for failing to give justice to Itishree, a victim of sexual harassment by SI Netrananda Dandasena and subsequent neglect by the police and administration in giving her protection despite here appeal, Jena said that the Morcha would continue Statewide agitation till CBI probe is ordered into the incident.
While addressing the media here, Jena demanded that the police initiate criminal proceeding against the CM immediately on the FIR lodged by her.She also demanded that School and Mass Education Minister Rabi Narayan Nanda be sacked for allegedly giving shelter to the main accused Dandasena. Flaying the Chief Minister for not taking any action against the senior officials involved in the case, Jena said that he has washed his hands off the case by dismissing four lower-rung officials only.