Jaleswar, Oct 27: A 12-hour shutdown is being observed in Jaleswar today, from 6 AM to 6 PM, at the call of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), demanding justice for a minor girl who was allegedly abducted, raped and murdered. The shutdown has been called to protest the heinous crime and demand justice for the victim. The Congress party is observing a separate eight-hour shutdown from 6 AM to 2 PM, while the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) has extended its full support to the protest.

The incident dates back to October 16, when a minor girl went missing under the jurisdiction of Jaleswar police station. Her body was subsequently recovered from a paddy field, triggering widespread public outrage.

According to allegations, the victim’s family apprehended the prime accused, Chandrakanta Jena, and handed him over to the police. However, the police allegedly released him without conducting a proper investigation, sparking anger among local residents and raising serious questions about the handling of the case.

Following public protests, a scientific investigation team examined the crime scene on October 22. On October 23, the officer-in-charge of the Nampo police outpost was suspended, while the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Jaleswar police station was transferred to police headquarters.

Demanding accountability and justice for the deceased girl, the BJD and Congress have called for ₹50 lakh in compensation for the victim’s family and a judicial inquiry into the incident.