Itishree Pradhan

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 9: The controversy over the death of a lady teacher, who was killed following her refusal to withdraw a police complaint against a sub-inspector of schools, took a new turn with a minister being accused of shielding the culprit.

Criminals set sikhya sahayak of Tikiri Upper Primary School Itishree Pradhan on fire on October 27 night when she was asleep in her hostel room. Itishree had filed a police complaint about sexual harassment against the then sub-inspector of schools, Netrananda Dandasena.

“Dandasena was hiding at a minister’s residence before his arrest on October 30,” alleged BJP leader and former minister Bijay Mohapatra.

Mohapatra, however, did not name the minister, who had harboured the main accused. Hinting at the school and mass education minister Rabi Narayan Nanda, he said there was evidence of a minister’s involvement in providing protection to the accused.

“I fail to understand why chief minister Naveen Patnaik is not acting against him, while he had asked the then agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy to resign in the wake of allegation that he had harboured the Pipili gang rape accused,” he said.

Nanda, who hails from undivided Koraput district, however, denied the allegation. “I don’t know Dandasena, nor has he ever visited my residence,” he said, adding that only known people from his constituency were allowed to stay at his residence in Bhubaneswar.

The minister described the allegation was “politically motivated to malign him and the ruling party”.

Mohapatra’s accusation has given credence to the charge that Dandasena enjoyed political patronage of local BJD leaders.

In her dying declaration, the 27-year-old victim had told a magistrate that BJD MP from Koraput Jayaram Pangi had close relations with Dandasena. Pangi, however, denied the allegation, saying that a section of the local BJD unit was blaming him. He even asserted that he was ready to face a CBI inquiry.

The allegation of political patronage to Dandasena has apparently put Naveen and the BJD in an embarrassing situation.

The Congress and the BJP have demanded the chief minister’s resignation, accusing him of failing to deliver justice to the victim and protect her life.

“The victim had run from pillar to post, seeking action against the culprit for sexual harassment. But, the chief minister has failed to act. He has no moral right to continue in power,” said Congress leader Narasingha Mishra.

In another development, Naveen had ordered a crime branch probe into the incident.

However, the Opposition parties are not satisfied with the government’s actions. Quoting Section 217 of the Indian Penal Code, Mohapatra said a public servant was liable for punishment for disobeying direction of law with an intent to save any person from punishment.

“A minister and higher-ups are public servants. Criminal proceedings should be initiated against them. Dismissal of lower-level officials is not enough,” he said.