The girl has alleged in her complaint that the lawmaker sexually exploited her on the pretext of marriage
By Swagatika Bhutia
Bhubaneswar, Feb. 19: After running from pillar to post for months to get justice, Somalika Dash, a girl hailing from Jagatsinghpur district, on Sunday approached Odisha Legislative Assembly’s Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Jayanarayan Mishra to raise her story of agony on the floor of the House in the ensuing budget session commencing February 22.
Somalika has accused the Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) Tirtol MLA Bijaya Shankar Das of rape on the pretext of marriage and cheating. She narrated to the LoP how she has been running from pillar to post for over nine months now to get justice, but in vain.
“I told the LoP Mr Mishra that despite all evidence, the police is not taking any action as he is the lawmaker of the ruling BJD, she said.
She further alleged that her case was registered after nine months after the intervention of High Court of Orissa. Even though 21 days have passed, the police has not yet taken any action against the lawmaker.
“I have been running from police stations to court. But, the lawmaker is roaming around freely. It took me nine months to get my case registered that too only after the intervention of Orissa HC. However, 21 days have gone now, but they are sitting idle with no action even after registering the case,” Somalika said to media persons after meeting Mishra.
She further took a sly dig at the state government and said, “I think, everyone who joins BJD are ‘clean’ so no action is being taken against them.”
“I have no hope left in the ruling party. So, I approached the Leader of Opposition Jayanarayan Mishra and narrated my ordeal. I’m hopeful, he will raise my issue in the Assembly,” she further added.
Mr Mishra, who has been hogging the limelight for his alleged scuffle with a lady inspector during a protest rally against the state government’s failure to maintain law and order, held a discussion with Somalika and assured her of all necessary help.
No comments could be obtained from the BJD MLA in connection with Sunday’s development.
