The State Government on Friday decided to provide round-the-clock protection to Barsa Swony, who has filed a dowry torture case against her father-in-law, former Minister Raghunath Mohanty, and other in-laws.
The Government’s move came immediately after Barsa met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here. “Besides her personal security officer, the local police will also ensure her protection,” Special Secretary of Home Department lalit Das told reporters.
“I met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik this morning and requested him to provide me protection as I am receiving threats from my in-laws. The Chief Minister assured me of protection without delay,” Barsa told the media.
She said, “The CM has promised that action will be taken as per law. The Government will not harbour any soft attitude towards the Mohantys for their being in the ruling party. I have also drawn the CM’s attention to the fact that the Odisha Human Rights Protection Cell has not submitted any chargesheet (against the accused) so far.”
Barsa last year filed a dowry torture case against Raghunath Mohanty, her husband Rajashree and others. Raghunath Mohanty was subsequently dropped from the Cabinet and arrested from Kolkata along with his wife. Barsa’s husband was also
arrested.
Barsa, who had married Rajashree in June 2012, had filed an FIR in Baleswar on March 14, 2013 accusing her husband and his four family members of torturing her physically and mentally for dowry.