Odisha trainer kidnapping case: Charred physique of suspected sufferer discovered; key accused held

By PTI

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha police on Tuesday exhumed the half-burnt mutilated physique of a girl, suspected to be that of a 24-year-old trainer lacking since October 8, from the playground of a faculty in Odisha’s Kalahandi district the place she used to work, an official stated.

The president of the non-public faculty’s managing committee, the prime accused within the case was additionally arrested from Bolangir district throughout the day.

He had escaped on Sunday night time from Titlagarh police barrack within the district, the place he was stored in detention in reference to “abduction” of the trainer.

Alleging that the accused is an in depth aide of Minister of State for Home D S Mishra, the opposition BJP and Congress demanded his resignation and a CBI probe into the incident.

The ruling BJD stated the legislation will take its personal course.

A police official stated the half-burnt and mutilated physique of a girl was exhumed from 10 ft deep into the playground of the varsity.

While the police had been but to verify the id of the physique, the trainer’s relations claimed that it was hers.

“Her bag and ornaments like anklets were recovered from the pit from where the body was recovered. From the size of the body also, we can say it is of my niece,” the sufferer’s uncle stated.

The police, nevertheless, stated the identification of the physique could be confirmed solely after a DNA check.

The police didn’t reveal how they got here to know concerning the place the place the physique was buried.

Around two hours after the physique was discovered, the important thing accused was picked up from a village below Bangomunda block of Bolangir district, Superintendent of Police Kauslkar Nitin Dagudu stated.

The accused, who additionally runs a university, was delivered to the SP’s workplace and is being questioned, police sources stated.

Earlier within the day, Bolangir Police had introduced him as a “most wanted” individual and a Rs 1 lakh reward for info resulting in his arrest.

The preliminary bounty was Rs 20,000 and it was elevated later.

The relations of the trainer who additionally served because the warden of the varsity’s ladies hostel lodged a criticism with the police on October 13, 5 days after she had gone lacking.

They suspected that the varsity’s managing committee president had kidnapped her as, they claimed, she was final seen with him on October 8.

“We had gone to lodge a complaint to the police station on October 9, but the police refused to accept it saying she should be somewhere,” her uncle stated.

He claimed that the prime accused may be very near minister D S Mishra who usually visits his faculty.

Meanwhile, the BJP and Congress demanded the resignation of the minister after a purported video of Mishra praising the accused at a latest operate held on the faculty went viral.

It was alleged that the accused managed to flee from the police barrack because of his political affect and proximity to the minister of state for house.

Congress and BJP activists staged demonstrations in Bhubaneswar and Bhawanipatna, headquarters of Kalahandi district, demanding Mishra’s resignation.

A gaggle of individuals belonging to the Congress’ scholar wing additionally hurled rotten eggs on the official residence of the minister within the state capital.

BJP state president Samir Mohanty demanded that the minister ought to step down on ethical floor because the incident befell in his constituency and the prime accused was near him due to which he might handle to flee from police custody.

The accused was detained within the police barrack since October 14 within the kidnapping case.

He had been booked below Section 366 of the IPC (kidnapping a girl to compel her to marry or to trigger her defilement).

In a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Leader of the Opposition P Ok Naik of the BJP demanded CBI probe into the case and resignation of Mishra on ethical floor to pave the best way for a impartial enquiry.

Only a CBI probe can clear doubt in minds of individuals on alleged bodily exploitation of woman college students of the varsity and school run by the accused in Kalahandi district, he stated.

Congress MLA from Kantabanji in Bolangir district S S Saluja stated the minister should resign or the chief minister ought to dismiss him with a purpose to pave approach for a impartial investigation into the case.

The ruling BJD stated the responsible must be punished as per the legislation of the land.

BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty criticised the BJP and the Congress accusing them of politicising a delicate legal case.

“The opposition should desist from making such political allegations and focus on giving justice to the victim’s family,” he stated.