Odisha’s political landscape is reeling from the shocking lynching of a young Muslim man in Balasore, prompting BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik to lead a chorus of condemnation against the state’s law enforcement failures.
The victim, Sheikh Makrand Mohammad from Astia village, was allegedly beaten to death by a mob accusing him of cattle smuggling. Patnaik, in an emotional address to party workers at Naveen Niwas, conveyed his deepest condolences and ordered an immediate fact-finding mission.
A prominent BJD team, spearheaded by figures like MP Sulta Dev, senior leader Prafulla Samal, and local chairperson Gulmaki Habib, descended on Balasore to console the bereaved family and engage with authorities. Sanjay Das Burma, addressing the media, highlighted the incident’s gravity: ‘Such barbarity has no place in peaceful Odisha.’
Burma pointed fingers at the BJP-led ‘double-engine’ administration, arguing it has fostered an environment ripe for minority-targeted violence. The regional party has issued a strong denunciation, with Patnaik seeking every detail to ensure accountability.
OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das joined the fray, indicting the government for a spike in attacks on marginalized groups post-BJP’s ascent.
Recounting the horror, family members revealed that on January 14, vigilantes attacked the youth, leaving him critically wounded. Despite police intervention and hospitalization, he could not be saved.
This tragedy not only exposes fissures in communal fabric but also amplifies demands for stringent anti-lynching laws and proactive policing. As delegations press for justice, Odisha watches closely for meaningful action amid brewing political storm.