Odisha Police Detain Youth Congress Members Amid Protests Over Alleged Gang Rape

Protests Erupt in Bhubaneswar

In Odisha, police have taken several members of the Youth Congress into custody following their protests against an alleged gang rape incident involving a minor girl. This incident reportedly occurred on December 10 in the Dhauli area of Bhubaneswar. The demonstrators were voicing their demands for immediate action regarding the case and holding the state government accountable.

Protesters emphasized the need for swift justice and criticized Chief Minister Mohan Chandra Majhi's administration for its handling of the situation. They attempted to encircle the Chief Minister's residence as part of their demonstration. During the protests, one participant stated their demand for the Chief Minister's immediate resignation.

Political Reactions and Criticism

Earlier, on Wednesday, the president of the BJD Women's Wing, Snehaangini Chhuria, condemned the Odisha government's response to the alleged gang rape. She highlighted a troubling trend of increasing crimes against women in the state, asserting that this incident is not isolated. Chhuria pointed out that there have been 28 reported cases of gang rape and sexual assault in Bhubaneswar over the past two months, claiming that under the BJP-led government, women are not safe anywhere in Odisha.

Chhuria further stated that Odisha has become a stronghold for sexual harassment against women, calling for urgent reforms to ensure their safety.

Concerns Over Law and Order

Criticizing the BJP government, the BJD leader and former Chief Minister of Odisha remarked that brutality and lawlessness have reached alarming levels, making the state capital increasingly unsafe. He questioned how much worse the law and order situation must become before the government takes action, expressing that the administration's failure to prevent crime is instilling fear among the public.