“After BJP came into power, law and order situation in state has deteriorated”: BJD leader Pratap Keshari Deb

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], September 3 (ANI): Calling the rape and murder of a 10-year-old tribal girl in Balasore “very heartwrenching,” former minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Pratap Keshari Deb said the law and order situation has “deteriorated” after the BJP came into power in the state.

Speaking to ANI on Monday, Deb said “It is a very depressing and heart-wrenching episode that a minor girl has been raped and murdered. Last Saturday, we raised the issue from the opposition side, that after the BJP came into power, the law and order situation in the state has deteriorated.”

Further, he said the BJP government needs to take action as here has been a “spurt of violence on communal lines” and a series of rape cases.

“There has been a spurt of violence on communal lines and there has been a series of rape cases which is depressing and sad. The government needs to take action on this,” he added.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA Santosh Kathua said the police are taking action against the culprits.

“This is a condemnable crime. This incident happened near my constituency. Such crimes that are being committed in Odisha are heinous. The police are taking action against the culprits. We are working hard to increase the conviction rates in the state,” Kathua said.

BJD leader Lekhasri Samantsinghar also hit out at the BJP-led government in the state for failing to curb crimes against women.

While speaking to ANI, Samantsinghar said, “Since the BJP government is formed in Odisha, and they are saying it is a double engine government, everyone expected good governance but one after the other, crimes against women in the state are increasing.”

The BJD leader mentioned other incidents of alleged sexual assault in Khorda and Bhubaneswar, while also highlighting the case of alleged sexual assault and murder of a minor girl in Balasore.

“Unfortunately, on August 27, a 10-year-old tribal girl from Balasore was brutally raped and killed in the district,” she said.