Residents of Jadupur in Nayagarh district on Tuesday protested a raid in the village by the IPS officer Arun Bothra-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is probing the case of murder of minor girl Pari.
The villagers cordoned off the area alleging the SIT’s “arbitrary” action.
A group of villagers opposed the raid while police officials were picking up a Dalit youth, Manas Nahak (29), following which the SIT members had to return with empty hands.
Manas, who is a daily worker, was the target of the SIT for interrogation in the case. However, the police officials faced wrath from the villagers while they were taking him into their custody.
Raising doubt on the SIT’s investigation process, the locals questioned as to how they would manage their households if the residents belonging to Harijan Sahi are picked up by the police.
While Pari’s murder took place where upper class people reside, a political conspiracy is being made to trap the Dalits in the case, said Magi Nahak, a protestor. “We will not allow the SIT nor any other police personnel to our Harijan Sahi to probe into the case, he added.
Notably, Pari’s parents have accused Minister and Nayagarh MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo of shielding his close aide Babuli Nayak, the prime suspect in the case.