Odisha ‘unsafe’ for women; gang-rape cases reported, over 24,000 girls missing: Congress

On the eve of Women’s Day, Congress on Thursday termed Odisha “unsafe” for women, saying the “double engine” BJP government has failed to control the increasing crimes, including gangrapes against women, in Odisha despite the fact that over 24,000 girls are missing in the state.

In a joint press conference addressed by the party’s state president Bhakta Charan Das and state incharge Ajay Kumar Lallu, they said in the BJP’s eight-month-old government in Odisha, 3,420 women and 8,430 children have gone missing, while 54 cases of gangrape have occurred.

“BJP has got government both at the Centre and the State. Why is this double engine government silent on gangrape and murder of women?” questioned Das.

Congress leader Das said “horrific” statistics show an eight per cent increase in crimes against women in 2024 from 2022.

“The highest crimes against women are committed in Odisha in the country. This is not a joke. Human trafficking is happening at the highest level in the state,” said Das.

Das cited several cases of crimes committed against women, particularly minor girls, including a case from the state’s Mayurbhanj district, which is also home to President Droupadi Murmu. In this case, Das said 10-year-old girl who was gangraped gave birth on the day of her examination. “This is horrendous. What worse can be this for a country. We have a question for the Home Minister: what steps have been taken in this matter?”

He also cited the case of a Class 6 girl from Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s constituency who got pregnant after being raped. “They (BJP) talk about ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’. I doubt they (BJP) have humanity,” said Das.

He questioned, “Who will give justice to this Class 6 girl?”

Odisha state incharge Lallu also said the law and order situation of the state has only worsened, with 13 girls going missing each day in the state.

“We want justice for daughters. We will protest on March 10. For the dignity of women, we are committed to it. The government has to answer,” said Lallu.