Bhubaneswar, 21 July (H.S.) The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday staged statewide protests demanding a judicial inquiry into the tragic death of a female student from FM College and the recent Balanga incident in Puri district, where a minor girl was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants.

Demonstrations were held in front of the offices of the Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs) in Cuttack, Sambalpur, and Berhampur. The protests began at 10 a.m. and continued until 2 p.m., drawing the participation of several BJD leaders, women's wing members, and grassroots workers.

In Berhampur, the protest rally commenced from the Khallikote College field and proceeded towards the RDC office. Protesters carried placards and shouted slogans demanding justice for the victims and accountability from the government.

One BJD worker participating in the rally said, “We are protesting to demand justice for the FM College student who died after attempting self-immolation, and for the minor girl who was brutally attacked in Balanga. The government has failed to take strong action, and many of the accused in the FM College case have not been arrested. Women are not safe in Odisha, and those responsible are being released without adequate punishment.”

At the core of the protest was BJD’s demand for a judicial inquiry into the FM College incident, arguing that the ongoing Crime Branch investigation is insufficient. The party alleged that the scale and sensitivity of the case require deeper scrutiny through an independent judicial process.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda