Bhubaneswar, Nov. 12: The BJP and Congress today demanded a CBI probe into the murder of Itishree Pradhan, the woman teacher in Rayagada, accusing the government of “facilitating” the crime.

Sikhya sahayak of Tikiri Upper Primary School 27-year-old Itishree, who had complained against a sub-inspector of schools of sexual harassment, was set ablaze on October 27 night by goons when she was asleep in her hostel room.

While the BJP staged a dharna in front of the Raj Bhavan and met governor S.C. Jamir on the issue, the Congress demonstrated near the Assembly.. BJP state president K.V. Singhdeo said: “They have not only failed to protect the life of Itishree, but also facilitated the commission of crime by the perpetrators.”

“Atrocities against women have been on the rise during Naveen Patnaik’s 14-year regime. Though he heads the home department, the government has utterly failed to protect women,” said Congress president Jayadev Jena.