Two youths misbehave with women, complaint lodged

Students will boycott classes, picket & wear black shirts

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

The youth and student wing of the BJD on Monday announced that it will stage a statewide protest against the rising crime against women on 25 June.

Addressing a press conference, BJD general secretary and MLA Byomkesh Ray and MLA Debi Ranjan Tripathy accused the BJP government of being a mute spectator to the worsening law and order situation in general and crime against women in particular. They alleged that on an average 15 girls are being raped daily in Odisha.

Such rising cases have led to a climate of fear and insecurity among women since the BJP assumed power in the state, Ray said.

Stating that every day, newspapers are replete with reports of young women being harassed, raped, kidnapped, or murdered, he cited the recent case of a young girl gang-raped in front of her male friend who was tied to a tree. The gang rape of a student at Gopalpur beach, a tourist spot, has outraged the nation, stated the BJD. Similarly, a tragic incident occurred in Chief Minister's home district Keonjhar, he added.

The state government is indifferent to the deteriorating law and order situation as well as the outbreak of cholera in 11 districts, alleged the BJD leaders. Shockingly amid such a crisis, the government is busy celebrating the one-year anniversary of its rule.