Sundargarh: The BJP is today observing a 12-hour bandh in Odisha’s Sundargarh, affecting normal life in the district. The saffron party gave the bandh call demanding CBI probe into the deaths of Rourkela Assistant Collector Sushmita Minz and Udit Nagar police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Alisa Narmi Lugun.
Offices, banks, shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed due to the bandh while vehicular movement came to a grinding halt as the party workers blocked roads at various junctions.
They were also seen resorting to picketing at many places.
However, emergency services have been excluded from the ambit of the bandh.
Former Union Minister and Sundargarh BJP MP Jual Oram said two tribal women have died under mysterious circumstances. The two incidents have exposed the anti-tribal attitude of the Odisha government, he added.
“Rourkela Assistant Collector Sushmita Minz was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a pond. How could she drown in a six-feet deep pond? The administration is saying that Minz was suffering from mental depression. If so, then why the administration did not take appropriate steps in this regard. What prompted Minz to stay in a hotel instead of her official quarters? There are several unsolved questions regarding the incident,” said Oram.
The senior BJP leader also targeted the state government over the death of woman police ASI Lugun.
Lugun was the personal security officer of the deceased Rourkela Assistant Collector. Lugun was attacked and killed while she was trying to restore law and order during a group clash, Oram claimed.
“Why did not the state government provide adequate security to Lugun? We suspect that both the tribal women have been killed by some people. We have already met Rourkela SP and sought a CBI probe into the two incidents. We called for Sundargarh bandh on October 5 to press for our demand,” said the former Union Minister.
