Bhubaneswar, Oct 27: Normal life in Jaleswar town in Odisha’s Balasore district was severely disrupted on Tuesday as the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress enforced separate shutdowns demanding justice for a 14-year-old girl who was allegedly raped and murdered.

The BJD observed a 12-hour bandh from 6 am, while the Congress called an eight-hour shutdown over the incident. The girl was allegedly raped and murdered on October 16, and her body was recovered on October 22.

Protesters blocked roads and raised slogans against the police, while shops and commercial establishments remained closed. Local transport services were also affected. However, police said traffic on the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway remained unaffected as vehicles were diverted through the bypass.

Leading the BJD protest, party MLA Aswini Kumar Patra alleged that the victim’s father had handed over the accused to the police, but he was released after two days. The accused and two associates were subsequently arrested following public outrage.

“Who instructed police to release the accused? That person must be investigated,” Patra said. BJD MLA Goutam Buddha Das also demanded a high-level inquiry.

Meanwhile, the Congress sought a Crime Branch investigation, suspension of the Jaleswar police station IIC and compensation of Rs 50 lakh for the victim’s family.

Powered by Froala Editor