Berhampur, Nov. 25: Pradesh Congress Committee president Jaydev Jena today demanded chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s resignation following the murder of senior party leader and former chairman of Seragada block Makara Gouda.
Gouda, 62, was attacked on Friday when he was returning to his native village Sunantar in Hinjili assembly constituency, which is represented by Naveen. Gouda succumbed to injuries at MKCG Hospital here today.
“The chief minister, who holds the home portfolio, is not bothered about the deteriorating law and order situation across the state,” Jena said.
“The local police is shielding the culprits and the government is protecting the cop who enjoys patronage of the ruling BJD,” said Jena and threatened an agitation if Gouda’s killers were not arrested.
Congress activists have staged road blockades for the last two days demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.
Gouda’s eldest son Tapan has held inspector in-charge of Seragada police station Prasant Kumar Sahu responsible for the murder.
“I don’t have faith in the investigation by the local police led by Sahu. I demand an inquiry by the CBI or any other independent agency,” he said.
“The inspector held grudge against my father after he had opposed the illegal detention of my cousin Rajiv Kumar Gouda,” Tapan said.
“My father had filed a petition before the State Human Rights Commission and the high court. The commission had slapped a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the home department for Rajiv’s illegal detention. This had angered Sahu. He had even said that he would not register any police complaint if somebody attacked my father,” Tapan said.
Deputy inspector general of police (southern range) Amitav Thakur termed the allegation as “baseless”.
“The police have identified the accused and would arrest the culprits soon,” he said. “I am in no way involved in the killing of Makara Gouda,” Sahu said.
“We are making sincere efforts to nab the accused. The scientific team has also issued sketches of the goons as described by Gouda in his dying declaration,” he said.
