Parents Of Murdered 5-Year-Old Girl Attempt Self-Immolation Outside Odisha Assembly: Report

A couple from Nayagarh district attempted self-immolation outside the Odisha Assembly in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. Ashok Sahoo and his wife Saudamini took the step demanding justice for their five-year-old daughter, who was allegedly kidnapped and murdered in July this year.

The couple accused the police of shielding the murderer as he is reportedly a BJD (Biju Janata Dal) worker as per The New Indian Express. The couple further alleged that their daughter was kidnapped and killed by Babuli Nayak, a close aide of the minister Arun Sahoo. Arun Sahoo is the local MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) from Nayagarh district of Odisha. 

Ashok and Saudamini Sahoo, who are from Jadupur village, attempted to set themselves on fire by pouring kerosene. However, police personnel deployed outside the Assembly rushed to their rescue and prevented them from lighting the fire. The police also seized a kerosene bottle and a matchbox from them and took them into custody for further questioning. 

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The couple demanding justice

The Times of India quoted Ashok saying, “I had lodged a complaint with Nayagarh Sadar police on July 14 about the disappearance of my daughter, who was playing alone outside our home." After some days, the girl's body was found behind their house with eyes gouged out and kidneys removed. 

Ashok further added, “The DNA test of the skeleton confirmed that it was my daughter’s. But police have so far not arrested anyone due to political pressure.” The couple also alleged that the accused and his associates attacked them on October 26 when they refused to withdraw the complaint against the accused. 

Ashok Sahoo had filed a petition in the Orissa High Court accusing police of stalling the investigation. The High Court then directed Nayagarh police to submit a report regarding the status of the investigation.

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Police said the postmortem report of the girl does not indicate any sexual assault before she was murdered. Nayagarh superintendent of police, Pratyush Diwakar, told TOI that the investigation is procceding in a fair manner.

National Vice President of BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) Baijayant Jay Panda wrote on Twitter, “A couple tried to kill themselves at the Odisha Assembly today, insisting that a very prominent BJD leader is sheltering the rapist & murderer of their 5 year old daughter. Wonder if liberals & national media will descend on Bhubaneswar with the same outrage as with some states.”

A couple tried to kill themselves at the Odisha Assembly today, insisting that a very prominent BJD leader is sheltering the rapist & murderer of their 5 year old daughter. Wonder if liberals & national media will descend on Bhubaneswar with the same outrage as with some states🤫

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) November 24, 2020

Picture Credit: PTI

Sagrika Giri is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.