Cong, BJD student wings to be blamed for girl's suicide: BJP
2
Bhubaneswar:
BJP
on Thursday claimed offensive contents posted on social media by the student wings of
BJD
and Congress had caused the 20-year-old Balasore student significant psychological distress, forcing her to set herself ablaze.
"The BJD and Congress student members harassed and instigated the female student, forcing her to end her life. They spread lies and created an atmosphere of hatred against her," BJP women's wing state president Aiswarya Biswal said, adding that the deceased's brother had lodged a police complaint on Wednesday against those people.
Her allegation was endorsed by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). "The girl had been an active member of the ABVP for the last four years.
She had been raising her voice over various issues. Members of the student wings of BJD and Congress, who had been harassing her, should be arrested immediately," ABVP state secretary (east), Diptimayee Pratihari, said.
National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of Congress, denied the accusations. "BJP is playing the blame game to save its own govt, whose neglect and apathy resulted in the student's death.
The girl had lodged a complaint of sexual harassment against her department head. She had drawn the attention of several authorities through a social media post. But none addressed her grievance. To shield the govt's failure, the BJP is now framing us in the case," NSUI state president Udit Narayan Pradhan said.
Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD), BJD's student wing, also denied the alleged involvement of its members in her death.
"The BJP, which is on the back foot, is dragging us into the controversy. To cover up their own fault, they are levelling false allegations against us," BCJD member and BJD's Banki MLA Devi Ranjan Tripathy said.
BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo said the traumatised student ended her life because of BJP's internal conflict. "Even though she was a member of the BJP-backed student wing, the party leaders did not address her grievance because of internal differences," Sahoo alleged.
State crime branch's crime against women and children wing (CAW&CW), which took over the investigation from Balasore police on Wednesday, said the role of every suspect is being verified. "We are analysing the social media content linked to the victim. The suspects will be interrogated," a crime branch official said.
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