Responding to the BJP’s attack over the double murder in Mahanga, BJD spokesperson Chinmaya Sahoo said the State Government has a policy of ‘zero tolerance’ towards political violence and law would take its course in this case as well.It is unfortunate that the BJP is targeting the ruling party over the case. “The party of the naysayers is in power in several States, where there is a deterioration of law and order and everyone is aware of the same,” he said.
As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, Odisha didn’t report a single political murder in 2019. West Bengal reported 12 political murders followed by six each in Bihar and Jharkhand. Karnataka and Punjab reported four political murders, Sahoo pointed out. He also informed that Cuttack Rural SP B Jugal Kishore has said that the persons behind the Mahanga murders would be arrested soon.
Minister and Mahanga MLA Pratap Jena, whose ouster from Cabinet has been demanded by BJP for his alleged protection to murder accused, reiterated his stand that he would fully cooperate with police investigation to ensure that culprits are brought to book soon.